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*Ayurveda:
The basis of Ayurveda*
The
entire science of ayurveda is based on the 'Five Great
Elements' (Panchmahabhuta) theory. These five elements
are earth (prithvi), water (jal), fire (agni or tej),
air (vayu) and ether or space (akash).
In
popular tradition, the universe is understood to be
made up of these elements.Ayurveda
comprehends body, mind and spirit likewise and has specific
methods for working on each.It
divides the constitution of people into three humoral
categories?Vata (ether/air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha
(water/earth). Vata rules mental mobility.
Pitta,
or fire, governs digestion and assimilation on all levels
from food to ideas. And kapha or water governs form
and substance and is responsible for weight, cohesion
and stability.Using
these three types in combinations of two creates six
more subtypes. A seventh subtype also exists, which
is a combination of all the three categories.
According
to the concept of good management, ayurveda insists
that the 'fault' or dosha, the 'tissue' or dhatu and
the 'impurity' or mala should be in harmony with each
other, with all the components properly balanced.Any
discordant note in this synthesis due to external or
internal causes is a cause for concern. These are basically
therapeutic measures taken either to prevent diseases
or cure them.Thus
ayurvedic procedures are done either to detoxify the
body or as a prelude to strengthening the immune system.
Panchakarma
or 'five procedures', is the most sought after detoxification
therapy, which paves the way for the culmination of
ayurvedic treatment of healing?anti-aging (Kaya Kalpa).
Kapha
lubricates and maintains the structure of all cells.
Kapha governs maintenance and love, manifesting as body
structure,lubrication
of joints and skin, immune function, calmness, and unconditional
acceptance.Everyone
and everything is made of ratios of each element.We
each are a unique balanced pattern of these energies,
an individual combination with which we are born, that
makes up our constitution (Prakruti).Unfortunately,
most of us have acquired imbalances (Vikruti). Ayurveda
is understanding our unique constitution and the nature
of the forces that act upon us to maintain or disturb
balance.Balance
and order is the natural order of things and is reflected
as health. Imbalance and disorder is reflected as dis-ease.
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