Ayurveda

Ayurveda literally means "science of life" and is the oldest form of medicine in the world. It originated approximately 4500-5000 years ago in Northern India on the shores of the Ganges and the Indus. Knowledge of maintaining a long, healthy life developed within this civilization: knowledge of health and disease, the effects of herbs and the importance of good nutrition and hygiene. This knowledge was passed on from generation to generation. With the development of written language, the knowledge of which strategies should be applied to heal which diseases and which methods were ineffective was documented on palm leaves. The texts, composed in rhyme, embraced a complete system of medicine. Ayurveda continued to develop in India. It served as the foundation for and influenced many other forms of traditional medicine, such as Chinese medicine and Greek medicine. Ayurveda mixed with the existing knowledge in these cultures to further develop independently. The application of Ayurveda is now spreading in the Western Hemisphere. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized Ayurveda as a science.

Herbs
Ayurveda is (eastern) phytotherapy. This means that herbs are used in their original - natural - state. Ayurveda can be characterized by the concept of "being in balance". Balance can be achieved through several approaches, such as massages, therapy, nutrition and herbal preparations. Ayurveda uses many culinary herbs - not for their scent, taste or color, but for the special effect they have on the body. For example, ginger and fennel aid digestion, and nutmeg is a diuretic. Herbs were and are till combined to prevent sickness and disease. These same herbs are also used to cure disease. In fact, the body heals itself while the herbs help the body to restore balance. Ayurveda not only treats the illness (symptom), but works to restore balance within the body, thus preventing or minimizing the frequency and intensity of reoccurrence.

Constitution
Ayurveda is based on the principle of the "Tridosha": three bio-energetic forces which form one's constitution. The three energies are called vata, pitta and kapha. The relationship between the three doshas is determined at conception. One is not specifically a vata, pitta or kapha type, but may be 60% vata, 30% pitta and 10% Kapha. This individual combination is one's "ideal" balance and is unique. Just as our blood type, our inherent constitution remains constant. One dosha will automatically be predominant in every stage of life (e.g. puberty and menopause). As long as one maintains this relationship, or balance, between the doshas, one remains healthy. It is possible to prevent illness by following the lifestyle appropriate to one's constitution. Ayurveda helps one to achieve and maintain balance. If one lives "out of balance", illness will result.

Out of balance
Our balance is often disrupted by our way of life (poor eating habits, improper rhythm of life) as well as by outside factors. One or more of the energies becomes unbalanced causes "sickness", or unbalance: a deviation of vata, pitta or kapha from the "ideal" relationship. The result of being out of balance can be a weakening of the immune system, which allows microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria free reign. There is a specific pattern of nutrition and exercise for every constitution, which restores and maintains an individual's balance. If one is "out of balance", the question is which dosha (vata, pitta, kapha) is out of balance (regarding the specific disease). In view of the disease (a vata-, pitta- or kapha-specific disease) and patient's constitution, insight is gained as to which dosha is increased or decreased and which remedy is appropriate. Usually the most dominant dosha within one's constitution causes the deviation.

The symptoms of a disease provide information on the dosha responsible for the disease and reveal which dosha is out of balance. Ayurvedic remedies establish a balance between vata, pitta and kapha. The use of herbs is one method. An individual's constitution generally tells what illnesses he may be susceptible to. Kapha types tend to kapha ailments such as colds and constipation. Pitta types are susceptible to pitta ailments (e.g. infections, acid stomach), and vata types to vata ailments (e.g. rheumatic diseases). But one may also suffer from an ailment outside of one's constitution, such as a pitta type suffering from a cold (normally a kapha-specific ailment). Ailments which deviate from an individual's dominant dosha are generally easy to treat. Those of the same dosha are difficult to treat, as the person's dosha intensifies the disease. Thus is would be easier to treat a pitta for a cold than a kapha.