Ayurveda
Ayurveda is considered by many scholars to be the oldest healing science. In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “The 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. Some of this knowledge was set to print a few thousand years ago, but much of it is inaccessible. The principles of many of the natural healing systems now familiar in the West have their roots in Ayurveda, including Homeopathy and Polarity Therapy.
Understanding your body and its inner balance
Ayurveda places great emphasis on prevention and encourages the maintenance of health through close attention to balance in one’s life, right thinking, diet, lifestyle and the use of herbs. Knowledge of Ayurveda enables one to understand how to create this balance of body, mind and consciousness according to one’s own individual constitution called Prakruti, and how to make lifestyle changes to bring about and maintain this balance.
Many factors, both internal and external, act upon us to disturb this balance and are reflected as a change in one’s constitution from the balanced state. Examples of these emotional and physical stresses include one’s emotional state, diet and food choices, seasons and weather, physical trauma, work and family relationships. Once these factors are understood, one can take appropriate actions to nullify or minimize their effects or eliminate the causes of imbalance and re-establish one’s original constitution. Health is order; disease is disorder. Within the body there is a constant interaction between order and disorder. When one understands the nature and structure of disorder, one can re-establish order.
Balance is health; imbalance is disease. Within the body there is a constant interaction between order and disorder. When one understands the nature and structure of disorder, one can re-establish order.
Doshas – The forces of life
Ayurveda views individuals as a microcosm of nature based on how synchronised the individual’s Doshas are. Doshas in a state of imbalance are believed to be in Vikruti, leading to a weakened immune system and potential disease. The main Doshas are Vata, Pitta, Kapha, present in every living being. They represent the 5 elements (Air, Fire, Earth, Water, Ether) of Nature in different proportions. An understanding of our Doshas can help us make healthy and productive lifestyle decisions so that we can be stronger and more peaceful versions of ourselves.
An understanding of our Doshas can help us make healthy and productive lifestyle decisions so that we can be stronger and more peaceful versions of ourselves. Find out more about Vata, Pitta, Kapha doshas and take a quiz to find out which dosha you are.
By Dr Jani & Dr Jani
Dr. Milind and Asmita Jani are a unique husband and wife team — a modern holistic GP and a qualified Ayurvedic Doctor who first pioneered the practice and awareness of Ayurvedic medicine as a personal wellbeing lifestyle and complementary medicine in the UK in 1985. They were the first to set up an Ayurvedic and Panchakarma clinic in Brighton and Hove (UK) in 1987.