What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is knowledge of Life and attributes to Physical,PhilosophIcal and Spiiritual levels and its a mode of lifestyle and that of alternative therapy, Ayurveda entails a holistic physiological system based on balance. With its cardinal doctrine of human physiology being constituted by ‘vata’, ‘pitta’ and ‘kapha’and the natural components of earth, water, fire, air and ether; Ayurvedic lifestyle is essentially based on the principles naturopathic lifestyle with a lot of insistence on discipline and control.

With medications consisting of herbs, mineral wealth making use of techniques such as yogic means and massages, more than five thousand year old process of Ayurveda believes in the process of detoxification so that the maladies of mind and bodies are cured.

  A patient undergoing Ayurvedic treatment is usually subject to a list of ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’, which in turn is predetermined by the consulting Ayurved keeping in mind his constitution, nature of his malady and a thorough assessment of the kind of lifestyle led by him. Bearing in mind his essential ‘dosha’ or malady the ayurvedic physician not only recommends a course of medication but also advises certain ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ from the point of view of his lifestyle management.

In fact, prolonged commitment to the prescribed lifestyle keeping in mind his physical and mental constitution is one of the facets of Ayurvedic treatment. As a holistic therapy aiming at balance amongst the three fold components of energy some of the dos and don’ts with regard to Ayurveda includes the following.

Being a naturopathic means of treatment, it turns down the consumption of junk food of synthetic make.
It prohibits the consumption of food at frequent intervals, insisting on the gapping of meals with a time interval of more than three hours.
Hunger between regular meals should be satisfied with fruits or juices rather than by way of fried or oily stuff.
It insists on the importance of exercising; but at no point should they be planned immediately after meals.
According to one of the golden rules of Ayurvedic lifestyle, staying awake late into the night is strictly prohibited. One is advised to push off to bed by ten in the night. Similarly, it upholds early awakening so by four in the morning so that the system gets attuned to a regulated lifestyle based on the principle of ‘early to bed and early to rise’.
Just as one is advised against skipping meals, one is also advised against overeating.
Eating should be balanced both in terms of its quantity and nutritional requirement.
Patients undergoing Ayurvedic medication are often advised against the consumption of animal protein. Rather they are prescribed a diet based on herbs, pulses, sprouts, yellow and green vegetables.

One is also advised against the consumption of food showing extremes of temperature. Likewise one is also advised against subjecting himself to the extremes of environmental conditions.
Weekly or if possible daily massaging with oil enriched with the goodness of natural herbs is also prescribed as part of Ayurvedic life style.
Similar to having one’s body massaged for due relaxation, it is also important to have the gum and head duly massaged with herbal oils which give way to effective circulation.
Meditation, yoga and relaxation techniques are also some of the vital ‘dos’ of the holistic therapy of Ayurveda.