AYURVEDA- “The science of life” is a holistically approachable & dignified system of medicine which has got its root from the ancient India. The principle & philosophy of Ayurveda views man as a complex whole, including our external & internal environment. The basic principles have been derived assuming the nature & all its constituents & universal law of nature. The chief objectives of Ayurveda is to protect & preserves the health of the body & to alleviate the disorders in the diseased. The grand treatise, which contains the details of health and long age (ayu) and which defines what is good (hita) and what is bad (ahita) for the four different types of ayus (namely, hitayu, ahitayu, sukhayu and dukhayu) is Ayurveda. It is not just a health care system but a form of life style adopted to maintain perfect health. Ayurveda is a healthy- lifestyle system that people in India have used for more than 5,000 years. Ayurveda emphasizes good health and prevention and treatment of illness through lifestyle practices (such as message, meditation, yoga, and dietary changes) and the use of herbal remedies. Ayurveda is a complete medical system which recognizes that ultimately all intelligence and wisdom flows from one Absolute source (Paramatma). Health manifests by the grace of the Absolute, acting through the laws of Nature (Prakriti). Ayurveda assists Nature by promoting harmony between the individual and Nature by living a life of balance according to her laws. In short, it is a unique blend of science and philosophy that balances the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual components necessary for holistic health. Ayurvedic medicine is holistic, which means viewing the body and mind as a whole. Ayurveda not only treats a person’s physical components, but it also changes lifestyle practices to help maintain or improve health.

Branches out into:

Treatment in Ayurveda involves four components. These are: -

HISTORY OF AYURVEDA

According to modern Ayurvedic sources, the origins of Ayurveda have been traced to around 5000 B.C. Some of the concepts of Ayurveda have existed since the times of Indus Valley Civilization. The first recorded forms of Ayurveda as medical texts evolved from the Vedas. Ayurveda is a discipline of the upaveda in Vedic tradition. There are various legendary accounts of the origins of Ayurveda, e.g. that is received by Dhanvantari (or Divodasa) from brahma.It is said that the Hindu god Brahma, created Ayurveda. He then transmitted this knowledge to his son, Daksha Prajapati. Daksha passed it down to the twin Vedic gods Ashwini Kumars. The twin god became the physician of the gods, and the Devas of Ayurveda. The twin gods presented Ayurveda to Indra, the king of gods. Indra had three physicians as his disciples, namely Acharya Bhardwaj, Acharya Kashyap and Acharya Divodas Dhanwantri. From Bhardwaj’s teaching, his student Agnivesha developed the fundamental Ayurvedic text of internal medicine. Agnivesha’s disciple Acharya Charak then revised this body of work. This started the tradition passing down the knowledge of Ayurveda from God to sages. It was back in the 6th century BC, Buddist monks introduced Ayurveda to China, Tibet, Korea, Mongolia and Sri Lanka. The main source of knowledge is the Veda, (the divine book of knowledge). Veda comprises: -

Ayurveda is the extension of Atharva Veda which throws light on the detailed methods of maintaining good health, using herbs and minerals for a perfect life style. It is latest book to be added to the four Vedas, was compiled in approximately 900 BC. It is in this body of knowledge that India’s ancient medical practice is comprehensively and systematically outlined. The Vedas are the world’s oldest form of literature. They are written in Sanskrit, India’s ancient language. They hold the Hinduism’s sacred scriptures, which are said to be records of revelations discovered by ancient seers and sages. There are four different bodies of the Veda. These books details practices in rituals, worship, hymns, mantras and the way of life. Ayurveda established its own identity as a distinct science after the Vedic period. The Ayurvedic texts are composed of two halves, the Great three classics of Ayurveda and the lesser three classics of Ayurveda. The Great Three Classics of Ayurveda consist of Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridayam Sangraha

PRINCIPLE OF AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is considered by many scholars to be the oldest healing science. In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “Science of Life”. Ayurvedic knowledge originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is often called the “Mother of All Healing”. It stems from the ancient Vedic culture and was taught for many thousands of years in an oral tradition from accomplished masters to their disciples. It is called eternal because nobody knows when it was not there. All this shows its long traditions and deep attachments to the Indian culture. The principles and philosophy of Ayurveda view man as a complex whole, including our external and internal environments. The principles are derived from universal laws of nature that have changed little through time. Ayurveda defines life ‘Ayush’ as the intelligent coordination of our four parts, the soul, the mind, the sense, and the body with the totality of nature and the cosmos. We interact with the seasons, planetary changes of the earth, and moon, other planets as well as orbiting relationships within our lives, our loved ones and friends, co-workers etc. We affect and are affected by every other animate and inanimate thing in existence. Bringing all of this into balance is the key to living healthy. In Ayurveda the whole life’s journey is considered to be sacred