Ayurvedic Medicine – The Origins of Ayurveda

Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic Medicine is one of the ancient forms of traditional medicine which is in practice from over 6,000 B.C. Indian mythological texts, the Vedas refer to this traditional medicine and its importance.

Ayurveda focuses on the entire body healing with the help of detoxification. This eastern medicine’s main focus is on boosting the immune system, the energy systems through natural remedies. This world’s oldest holistic healing therapy is believed to bring balance between the mind, body, and spirit for better health.

Ayurvedic Medicine As An Alternative To Western Medicine

Ayurvedic medicine is considered as an alternative to many western medicines and treatments. When in fact ayurvedic medicine is a holistic treatment that can be used alongside modern medicine. In the USA, Ayurvedic medicine treatments are considered a type of CAM (complementary and alternative medicine). The origins of the vedas and ayurvedic treatment are completely holistic.

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How the Vedas and Ayurveda relate to each other?

Ayurveda has its roots originated earlier than the 8th century. The Vedas is the ancient Hindu religious textbooks that deal in healthcare techniques, astrology, spirituality, politics, human behaviour etc.

Altogether there are four Vedas, the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda. Each of these Vedas deals in specific things with relation to society and living.

The Atharva Veda is an ancient book that deals with ancient medical practices. It has a details description of Ayurveda and various types of Ayurvedic treatments using plants with medicinal values.

All these books were written in Sanskrit which was later translated into Chinese, Greek, and many other languages.

How is Ayurvedic Medicine linked with your life energy?

The yogic theory believes that when the mind, body, and soul connect with each other in harmony, it brings good health. Meditation,   Relaxation and balance helps to keep them working harmoniously.

It is also believed that the human body is made up of five basic elements like air, fire, water, earth, and space. These elements combine together in pairs and form life energy or doshas which controls the working of your body. There are three major types of dosha as mentioned in Ayurveda. They are:

• Vata dosha is a combination of Space and Air.
• Pitta dosha consists of the two vital elements of fire and water.
• Kapha dosha consists of elements of water and earth.

These doshas control different functions of the body. Whenever there is any disbalance in these doshas, a person falls into dis-ease, becomes sick. An Ayurveda practitioner will first understand a person’s dosha and recommend a specific treatment to balance it.

What Happens If The Doshas Get Imbalanced?

Vata Dosha

Vata Dosha is believed to the strongest among the three doshas. This traditional medicine theory underlines the fact that Vata Dosha controls cell division which is the fundamental of life. It controls your bowel movements and other organs of the body like heart, blood flow, etc. Vata Dosha also controls your mind and breathing rate.

There are various reasons for which disbalance occurs in its functioning. Like unhealthy and improper diet, less sleep, fear, grief, etc. Once there is disbalance, there are high chances to develop conditions like heart disease, blood pressure, stress, anxiety, and even rheumatoid arthritis. Ayurveda deals with these health issues and offers natural remedy with the use of herbal medicines, detoxification techniques, etc.

Pitta Dosha

When there is a problem with regards to your digestion, it is believed that there is a disbalance in Pitta Dosha. The energy center in Pitta Dosha controls your metabolism. Once it functions properly it helps to break down the food with the help of various digestive hormones.

If you are suffering from digestion problems, acidity or constipation, it means there is a disbalance in Pitta Dosha. If Pitta Dosha stops functioning properly there are high chances for these conditions to develop. When you eat too much junk food, drink less water or expose yourself to excess heat, you are likely to develop this problem. Ayurveda deals with these health issues and offers a natural remedy to treat them.

Kapha Dosha

Kapha Dosha, which is a combination of water and earth, controls your muscle growth and body strength. It also gives you stability, makes your immune system strong and keeps your weight under control.

An unhealthy lifestyle like improper sleep, eating too much sugar and fast food, etc. can disrupt it. In case it gets disturbed, patients are seen to develop many health issues like cancer, diabetes, obesity, etc. The natural herbal healing techniques used in Ayurveda can help solve the root of these problems by rebalancing Kapha Dosha.

How Do You Become An Ayurvedic Medicine Practitioner?

Ayurvedic medicine practitioners are called Vaidya which is a Sanskrit word. In English it means physician. If you wish to learn Ayurveda and become a Vaidya there are various approved training programs.

The course-curriculum of an Ayurvedic Medicine Practitioner covers a detailed study of dosha, yoga, meditation, and various herbal treatments. It is important you choose a properly recognized accredited ayurvedic medicine training program in this area.

What are the different branches in Ayurveda?

Ayurveda medicine has eight different branches of treatment. They are listed below:

• Internal medicine or Kayachikitsa – It deals with the overall treatment of the body with the use of herbal oils, lotions, and creams.
• Treatment for children or Baala Chikitsa – It focuses on all treatment with regards to a child’s development.
• Psychiatry treatment or Graha Chikitsa – It focused to cure various mental problems with the help of yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.
• Urdhyaanga Chikitsa – This branch of Ayurveda emphasis to cure health issues with regards to eyes, ears, nose, and throat.
• Surgery or Shalyaroga Chikitsa – Deals with any kind of surgery using surgical instruments.
• Toxicology or Damstra Chikitsa – Deals to remove toxic elements from your body.
• Geriatric or Jara Chikitsa – Deals with various therapies on anti-aging.
• Reproductive health or Vajjikaran Chikitsa – Deals with infertility and sexual health.

Benefits of Ayurvedic Medicine

Centuries ago there was no such thing as cosmetic or modern medicine. People only had access to natural medicine. Ayurvedic treatments focus on eliminating the root of these health issues. Using nature and a state of balance. It can be a slow but effective process to cure various illnesses using natural medicine.

We all know plants have medicinal properties. Ayurveda uses those medicinal properties to give relief from different illnesses without the usual side effects associated with modern medicine. That is why I practice ayurvedic 3medicine.

Would you like to know your Dosha body type?

One of our guest bloggers Rochelle  Marie Lawson has this Free Assessment Dosha Quiz | Body Type Assessment

Know your unique body type to get your own personalized formula to living blissfully.

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