| If you're familiar with the terms "pitta" and | | | | (or consciousness) and our bodies are not |
| "vata", then chances are you've been | | | | separate - they are united as one, called the |
| acquainted with one of the most ancient | | | | "mind-body". Ayurvedic philosophy and |
| medical practices of Asia. Ayurveda | | | | practices reconnect us to ourselves and |
| (pronounced eye-your-VAY-da) has just began | | | | reminds us that we are one with nature and |
| to break through mainstream Western medical | | | | with the entire cosmos. Mental and physical |
| consciousness as more and more people have | | | | health are one and the same, so in Ayurveda, |
| began to look for drug-free and natural | | | | symptoms and diseases in the mind (like |
| remedies to cure their ailments and | | | | thoughts and feelings) are just as vital as |
| spirits.Ayurveda is the natural system of | | | | symptoms and diseases of the body (like pain |
| medicine that has been traditionally | | | | and physical difficulties). These produce |
| practiced in India for more than 5,000 years. | | | | imbalance and illness, so both mind and body |
| It is a Sanskrit word that literally | | | | are treated simultaneously by restoring their |
| translated means "the science of life" and | | | | natural balance. In short, to be healed, |
| "science of longevity". Ayurveda is the | | | | your whole physical lifestyle must be in sync |
| health care system that was slowly and | | | | with what you feel inside.The Ayurvedic |
| steadily developed by traditional seers and | | | | objective is to live a long balanced life |
| natural scientists through centuries of | | | | that achieves our fullest potentials and |
| meditation, observation, discussion and | | | | expresses our true inner nature by adhering |
| experiments. These Ayurvedic teachings were | | | | to certain daily practices that prevent |
| then orally passed on from teacher to student | | | | disease. However, Ayurvedic treatments do |
| until the sixth century BC, where detailed | | | | not simply dwell on herbal medications. The |
| Sanskrit texts were finally written. It is | | | | system emphasizes the inclusion of |
| said that even the ancient Greek, Roman, | | | | meditation, yoga, massage and proper diet. |
| Egyptian, Chinese and Tibetan medicine | | | | It believes in integrating the mind, body and |
| systems are said to be derived from Ayurveda. | | | | spirit to maintain good health and long |
| Because of its rich history and philosophy, | | | | life.In India, Ayurvedic practitioners |
| this multifarious medical system is still the | | | | undergo state-recognized and |
| treatment method of choice even for most of | | | | institutionalized training, much like Western |
| modern India and Southeast Asia.Ayurveda is a | | | | doctors. Only recently has there been a slow |
| holistic approach that emphasizes prevention | | | | acceptance of Ayurveda in the West with the |
| of disease rather than its treatment. It has | | | | positive research outcomes of meditative |
| systems that aim for the rejuvenation of our | | | | techniques and yoga in Western medical |
| body and the extension of life span. The | | | | literature. Today, more prominent and |
| Ayruvedic tradition believes that five | | | | published studies have documented the success |
| elements -- space, air, fire, water and earth | | | | of the Ayurvedic approach in healing |
| -- make up the world we live in. Each | | | | cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, |
| element is found in the human body and called | | | | bad cholesterol levels, certain cancers, |
| the "dosha". The forces and principles that | | | | infectious diseases and most stress-induced |
| are found in all of nature are also seen in | | | | illnesses. |
| our human systems. In Ayurveda, our minds | | | | |