About Ayurveda

आयुषो वेदं आयुर्वेद

What is Ayurveda?

हितहितं सुखम दुःखं आयुस्तस्य हिताहितं
मानं च तच्च यत्रोक्तं आयुर्वेद स उच्यते

Ayurveda is a very old system of medicine that started in India more than 5,000 years ago. It's known as the "mother of all healing systems." The word "Ayurveda" comes from the Sanskrit words "Ayur," which means life, and "Veda," which means knowledge or science. So, Ayurveda can be translated as the "Science of Life" or the "Knowledge of Longevity."

Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health that looks at all aspects of life—what helps or harms us, what brings happiness or sadness, and what affects the quality and length of our lives. It’s not just about living longer but also about living a healthy and balanced life. Ayurveda focuses on keeping the body and mind in harmony to promote overall well-being and vitality.

Aim of Ayurveda

स्वास्थ्यस्य स्वस्थ्य रक्षणं आतुरस्य विकार प्रशमनं।

The goal of Ayurveda is to keep healthy people healthy and to treat those who are sick. By doing this, we can achieve the four main purposes of life:

Dharma - living a life of duty and righteousness.
Artha - earning and managing wealth.
Kama - enjoying life's pleasures.
Moksha - attaining freedom and peace from suffering.

This way, Ayurveda helps us lead a balanced and meaningful life.

Health According to Ayurveda

समदोषः समाग्निश्च समधातु मलःक्रियाः।
प्रसन्नात्मेन्द्रियमनः स्वस्थइतिअभिधीयते

According to Acharya Susrutha in Ayurveda, health means being in balance in all aspects of life. This includes the balance of Tridosha (the three vital energies of the body), Agni (digestion and metabolism), and Dhatu (the building blocks of body tissues). It also involves proper removal of waste (Malas) from the body.

Ayurveda takes a holistic view of health, considering not just the body but also the mind and spirit. A truly healthy person, according to Ayurveda, is someone whose body, mind, and soul are in harmony and functioning well, not just someone who appears physically fit but is mentally or spiritually unwell.

Benefits of Ayurveda

Detoxify and purify the body.
Fortify body muscles and enhance immunity.
Alleviate anxiety and stress while promoting relaxation.
Aid in weight reduction.
Decelerate the aging process.
Improve skin complexion.
Diminish inflammation.
Boost energy levels.
Enhance body flexibility.

Three Pillars of Life

आहार शयनाब्रह्मचर्यैयुक्तया प्रयोगितै
शरीरं धार्यते नित्यमागारमिव धरणै

Just like a building needs strong pillars to stay stable, our body needs a good balance of food, sleep, and intimacy to stay healthy and full of energy.

Among these three sub pillars, Food is considered as the foremost sustainer of life. The classics have enumerated various food articles which come under the purview of food as well as medicine.

Food replenishes and supports the Doshas, Dhatus and Malas that supports Life. By the knowledge of this science ( Food Science ) we can treat many diseases.

Food which are wholesome are to be consumed regularly for the proper maintenance of Health and Mind.

Ayurveda describes sleep as a basic instinct of life, essential to all living beings. We need it to rejuvenate and reenergize our body mind and spirit.

Getting enough sleep at the right time supports our wellbeing and helps us attain good quality of life. Proper Sleep protects growth and development of body Dhatu Pushti ( nourishment ).

Sleep actually help us to learn, memorize, retain, recall and use their knowledge to come up with creative and innovative solutions. In terms of our overall health, sleep is actually on par with eating; it is essential to both physiological and cognitive functioning.

As we have all experienced, sleep helps to restore our level of alertness.

Just like diet and sleep, we often overlook the importance of our sexual wellbeing. Many of us see sex as something extra in life, but it’s actually as essential for our physical and mental health as eating well and getting enough rest.

If we overdo it with sex, it can drain the energy we need to keep our body, mind, and immune system healthy. It can also harm the connection we share with our partner.

That’s why it’s important to conserve our energy—not just during sex, but in all areas of life. Think of it as keeping your battery charged. When someone engages in sexual activity mindfully and in moderation, they can enjoy benefits like staying youthful, having a sharp memory, strong intellect, better health, sharper senses, and greater strength and vitality.