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 Ayurveda is an ancient science of
India which explains the way of leading a healthy and
stress free life. The word Ayurveda itself means the
science of life Ayu is Life and Veda is
Science or Knowledge. It's references are available in all
vedas & mainly in Atharvaveda.
Vedas, where all the Rishis have explained
about the way of leading a healthy life and its various
other factors which affect life. Aurveda explained that
for every work done karya there is a responsible
cause Karan.
Eg. In malarial fever malarial parasite is the karan and
malarial fever is the karya.
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Principles
of Ayurveda
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As modern science explains that the whole universe is
made up of three major components ie. solid, liquid and
gases, similarly Ayurveda explains about panch bhautik
sidhanta. According to Ayurveda all living and non
living beings have originated from panch mahabhuta
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Aakash The Space
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Vayu The Air
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Agni The Energy
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Jal The Water
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Prithvi The Earth
Aakash
It is similar to empty space.Space is the only factor
which makes the things to differentiate among
themselves.Suppose there are ten stones then due to the
space among these stones we can easily identify them
separately. Now suppose they are placed together in a
bunch it will be difficult to count them from a distance
as it will look like one so the space is a factor which
provides identity to a substance or work.
Vayu
It is similar to air. It is that factor which provides
movement to every particle or simply put all sorts of
movements are carried out by vayu.
Agni
Here agni is that factor which changes the shape or
gives a particular shape to substances.
Jal
It is the liquid factor which helps to bind different
particles. Flour is drought without Water. Water turns
the cement into stone. ( here oil is also included in
Jal Mahabhuta)
Prithvi
Prithvi is the factor which contains the specific
weight. and that factor on which rest of other
Mahabhuta acts i.e. Prithvi can be moved by air in
space.Agni provides a particular shape to prithvi and
prithvi can be bound by jal.
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Fundamentals
of Ayurveda |
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Ayurveda says that the fundamentals
of human body are based on three basic pedestals namely
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Doshas
are the functional units of the body .
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Dhatus
are the structural units of the body.
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Malas
are the excretory products of chay–apachay ie.
metabolism occuring in different system.
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Doshas
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The functional elements of the body are namely vayu,
pitta, kapha, which are responsible for the maintenance
of physiology in healthy individuals, any change in
their proportion and functions due to external and
internal factor leads to patho-physiology. This leads to
diseases. Thus doshas are the chief factors,which are
responsible for healthy systemic,maintenance or diseased
state of an individual.
Vyadhi (disease) is an effect of Dosha
Vaishyamya–vitiation of doshas
Depending on an amount of dosha vaishaymya curative
procedures are advocated. Elaborate descriptions of
various procedures and rituals to maintain health and to
cure disease are available in ayurveda literature.A
state where an amount of vitiation of dosha is less,
(which is judged by signs and symptoms of disease) dosha
suppressive medications are suggested which is known as
shaman chikista. When an amount of vitiation of dosha is
more elimination of that or those doshas, from the body
by different routes is advocated is termed as shodhan
chikista.
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Dhatus
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Dhatus are the structural units of the body i.e. the
whole body is made up of seven factors
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Ras
After digestion food material gets converted into
very first Dhatu i.e. Ras.Its function is to provide
nourishment to rest of all dhatu i.e. Prinanam.
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Rakta
Ras dhatu is converted into Rakta by action of Agni.
(Rakta is similar to blood) It's function is to keep
every cell alive.
Agni
has got a very major role in ayurveda.
It is believed that if agni is normal then that
person can lead a healthy life and he will not
suffer from any other metabolic disorder.Agni is
very much similar to digestive enzymes.
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Mans
It is similar to muscular layer on the body.
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Meda
It is similar to fat layer. Its function is to
provide lubrication to the body.
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Asthi
It is similar to Bones. It provides support to the
body.
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Majja
It is similar to Bone marrow. It occupies the cavity
of bones.
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Shukra
It is similar to semen and sperm in Male and in
female all the factors responsible for reproduction.
Its function is reproductive.
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| Malas |
Malas are the waste materials produced as a result of
various metabolic activities in the body. these are
faeces,urine & Sweat . Each has got its own
importance in Ayurveda.
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Here are some Frequently Asked
Question that you always wanted to know.
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| 01. |
What
are the causes of Baldness and how can we prevent it? |
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Baldness
is a slowly growing disease. Many of us ignore the early
stages of hair loss which might cause complete or partial
baldness. Baldness not only harms beauty or personality
but also affects a victim psychologically. Surveys show
that women don't like bald men as compared to others. A
bald person also feels his personality quite affected by
his recent changed look. The baldness or hair loss is
encouraged due to
- Body heat or dryness caused by overeating of spicy
food or fried food.
- Alcoholism
- Careless attitude towards hair cleaning which
increase the chances of infection.
- Abhishandi type of food .The food that, after
digestion, gets deposited on walls of vessels, which
forms the blockage. This prevents nourishment of
cells, causing hair fall e.g. Curd, Banana, Frizzed
food, Ice-Creams, Fruit Salads.
- Women rarely have hair problems,but lack of iron and
calcium might lead to balding in women
Home Remedy
If you find a gradual hair loss don't
panic; put yourself on a Satvik Ahar. Have fruits or fruit
juices for 5-15 days. Find out yourself which of the above
mentioned reason is yours and avoid it. Try avoiding
alcohol or spices.
Apply paste of the following on your scalp
Emblica officinalis (Aamla)
Eclipta alba (Maka)
Lawsonia inermis (Mehendi)
in equal quantity for 15-20 min.Then wash with Luke warm
water.
Aamla (Emblica officinalis) will
nourish as well as strengthen your hair roots.
Maka (Eclipta alba) will prevent discoloration of hair.
Mehendi (Lawsonia inermis) will give you a cool feel thus
nullifying your body heat and will give you sound sleep
which will help keep you mentally balanced.
Within 15-20 days you will discover the difference in you
and your personality. OR ask for our medicated oil
specially prepared to prevent hair loss.
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| 02. |
What
are Acne and how it is treated ? |
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Acne
Most people think it is an
unavoidable patch of one's life while turning from a kid
to an adolescent which has no solution. While transforming
from childhood to adolescence due to vitiation of doshas
adolescents suffer from acne. In Ayurveda childhood is
known as Kaphjawastha; whereas adolescence is
Pittajavastha. In this transforming period, the vitiation
of doshas increases resulting in acne appearing on face.
Treatment
The adolescent is expected to do Waman
Karma(Emesis) as the initial step.They should start Satvik
Ahar and avoid non-vegeterian food.
The adolescents are suggested to wash their face 2-3 times
daily. To avoid constipation, diet rich of fibers should
be taken. Lemon juice acts against the Kafadoshas and
opens the blockage, increases the Metabolic activities.
Fruits are suggested on this problem .You can also consult
us for further details.
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| 03. |
How
Constipation can be cured ? |
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Constipation
affects a person in day-to-day life. It also affects his
mental balance.
Constipation (with hard stool) might be due to overnight
exertion or bad eating habits. On the of the common
reasons is having less water every day. Mental stress or
alcoholism can also be one of the reasons. A patient is
suggested to have fruit diet.
Cure : 1 tbsp ghee with glass of milk daily before
going to bed. Senua 500mg + Terminalio chebula 1 gm
(herda).
If the patient has faeces with mucus, he is suggested
to have
Amla - (Phylanthus emblica) + Aniseed gm + Cumin Seed 500
mg
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| 04. |
How
Acidity can be avoided ? |
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Acidity
: (Amlapita)
Acidity is a most commonly seen problem
amongst people. The main reason being eating more than
necessary, or eating every now and then, or constipation.
The people who have more liking for fried or
non-vegeterian food are often seen troubled by acidity.
Treatment :All you have to do is
follow simple rules.
- Don't drink water immediately after eating.
- Koshna Jal (Luke warm) water after 1/2 hour.
- Reduce your diet to 3/4 th of regular diet.
- Have Aniseed croomy (Saunf) and Coriander seed (500
mg) twice a day.
- Have lemon water with equal amount of sugar and salt
everyday.
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| 05. |
What
may be the reason for the dark circles below the eyes ? |
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The dark circles below the eyes is not
the sign of ageing or reaction of make up or result of
moving out in hot sunny days. It's a sign of deficiency of
nutrition factors. If you are working or studying in poor
light or overexerting your eyes this problem might occur.
Your eyes can also get strained due to watching television
for long. Dark circles are the result of bad eating and
working habits.
Treatment :
Make thin slices of potato and cucumber
and keep them on your eyes for about 15 minutes. Take milk
diet and fruit juices. Most important do not strain your
eyes.
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| 06. |
Any
home remedy for loss of appetite ? |
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Loss of appetite is not a disease but
it is a sign which indicates that digestive system
requires rest so that BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) gets
normal.Fasting for a day or reducing diet will be the best
remedy for it.
Treatment :
Cumin seeds 500mg
Aniseeds 500mg twice a day.
One glass of lemon juice with pinch of salt once a day.
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Tips
for Nutritions
Infants
should always be feed on
breast milk. Since nature has provided healthy food for
him.
From 6-7 month i.e. after development of teeth starts,
baby should be kept on fruit juices and breast milk.
From 8th month onwards we can feed him on little bit hard
diet such as rice,pulses etc.
Once baby starts playing and performing other physical
movement it should not be restricted for any diet. Because
of more exertion,he gets enough digestive power to digest
any heavy meal.
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Now to understand the type of diet for
working class and about the type of nutrition for them.
Let's see how improper metabolism can cause various
disorders.
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To maintain the proper
balance nutrition Ayurveda has divided the food according
to its taste.
It is of six types.
- Madhur (Sweet like sugar)
- Amla (Acid or sour like Lemon)
- Lavan (Salty like salt)
- Tikta (Bitter like Bitter gourd, Neem)
- Katu (Ushna, Pungent like Chili)
- Kashay (Astringent like Alum)
According to Ayurveda diet should
contain all the six tastes in proportion and should be
easy for digestion.
When all the six Rasas are employed properly they maintain
the body and their incorrect utilization results in the
vitiation of doshas.
Types of diet influencing Satva / Mana / Mind.
Normal brain functions and mental diseases can be altered
by adequate diet. Ayurveda classifies diet into three
groups as per the satva gunas.
- Satvic Diet
- Rajasi Diet
- Tamasic Diet
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| Satvic
Diet |
Satva is the main and most healthy
property (guna) of mind. Satvic diet is Ojas (Bliss)
producing and maintains the body mind equilibrium and
longevity. It keeps all the three body Doshas in a
balanced state. This best diet consists of light,
soothing, easily digested, refreshing articles with a
balance of all six tastes and in adequate quantity.
Milk : Cow's milk is preferred
to other milks as it is most satvic. Milk provides
proteins and strength necessary for reconstruction of all
cells.
Ghee : Ghee provides the fatty
portion of diet.
Fruits and Vegetables :
Fruits
and vegetables must occupy the maximum portion of one's
diet. But they must be fresh, properly ripened, devoid of
germs and consumed as per their reasons only. Both are
immuno-modulate and provide one the required vitamins,
minerals, salts. They are bulk-promoting, nourishing and
strength-promoting.
Fruits : apricots, melons,
dates, cherries, coconut , orange, bananas, amlaki etc.
Vegetables :Green leafy
vegetables, mung, cabbage, karela etc.
Cereals : Cereals like old
quantity of red variety of rice, white variety, barley,
little amount of wheat etc are excellent carbohydrate
supplements.
Dietary articles of sweet taste in
general : A small quantity of butter and honey can
also be termed as Satvic articles.
Thus a Satvic diet provides all
necessary energy for reconstruction and development of
body constituents. Maximum portion of such a diet is
converted into Ojas infusing happiness & buoyant
feeling throughout the body. Persons habitual to Satvic
diet have minimum risks of diseases like heart troubles,
blood pressure etc.
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| Rajasi
Diet |
Rajasi diet
is a tasteful diet
maintaining the equilibrial state of doshas. It vitiates
Vata and Pitta leading to their respective disorders.
Dietary articles with pungent and bitter taste
Food items with sour and salty taste, hot in potency,
aggravate Pitta.
Liquor : Liquor's properties are almost similar
with those of poison. It provokes all three doshas and is
a great risk factor for disease like Hypertension,
Hyperacidity, Cardiac disorders, Neurological deficits,
Gastritis, ulcers etc.
Fish: It is Vata-Pitta aggravator & causes
various dermatological complications and allergies
manifestations.
Meat & Eggs : Though they are strength
promoting in turn greatly aggravate Kapha & some times
even Pitta. As they are heavy to digest on daily usage
cause various digestive problems like Indigestion,
Gastroenteritis, Vomiting, Ulcer, HyperAcidity etc.
Meat & eggs also come under main risk factors of
HyperTension, Obesity, HyperLipidemia etc.
Vegetables : Onion, Garlic, Radish, Potatoes, Sweet
Potatoes, Tomatoes, Brinjal, Beans etc.
All Spices : They greatly aggravate Vata-Pitta.
Hot soft drinks : Tea, Coffee
Modern dietary products like fast
foods, all oily-spicy articles are Rajasi. Thus a Rajasi
diets maximum portion is converted into waste producing a
little of Ojas. Hence it reduces body immunity and induces
anger, irritability like properties.
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| Tamasic
Diet |
Tamasic Diet : Tama is the most degraded guna of
Mana & so is the Tamasic diet.It vitiates Kapha
mainly. but on excessive consumption vitiates all three
doshas.
A list of Tamasi i.e. vicious food is as follows.
Curds: Curd is a Abhishyandi* product vitiating all
doshas especially Kapha-Pitta.
*(Abhishandi is a type of food which gets deposited on the
walls of vessels and forms the blockage.)
Wines : Prepared by fermenting food articles.
Stale Stuffs
Tasteless
Rotten
Stinking food items
All these food articles are unpleasant & Ama-producing
(Ama is the Ras Dhatu formed due to improper digestion
it's properties are similar to Abhishandi) disturbing the
complete digestive system.
Fermented food items like bread, cakes, pastries, idli,
dosas etc are Kapha aggravators.
Thus Tamasi diet is a mal-nourished
diet which instead of producing Ojas, reduces it. It
produces undesirable effects on body and mind.
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| Food
for Good Health |
There are few factors which
determine the utility of food.
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Food
should be warm
One should take warm food. When warm food is taken it is
delicious; after intake, it provokes the factors (enzymes)
in the abdomen responsible for digestion ; it gets
digested quickly and helps in the downward passage of
vata. |
Food
should be unctuous (like Ghee)
One should take Unctuous food. It increases the plumpness
of the body, strengthens the sense faculties, promotes
strength and brings out the brightness of complexion. |
Food in
proper Quantity
A] For the purpose of taking food the stomach
capacity should be divided into three parts. One part of
it should be filled up with solid food. The second part
with liquids and the third part should be left for vata,
pitta and kapha. One who takes food with due regards to
this principle, does not fall a victim to any of the
harmful effects which arise due to food taken in improper
quantity.
B]When taken in proper quantity it promotes
longevity in its entirety without affecting vatta, pitta
and kapha, it easily passes down to the rectum; it does
not impair the power of digestion and it gets digested
without any difficulty. |
Intake
after digestion of previous meals.
One should take food only when previous meal is digested.
If one takes food before the digestion of the previous
meal; the digestive product of the previous food i.e.
immature rasa gets mixed up with the product of food taken
afterwards, resulting in the provocation of all the dhosas
instantaneously.
If food is taken after digestion of the previous food
while dhosas are in their proper places and agni
(digestive enzymes) is provoked, there is appetite. The
entrance of channels of circulation are open, circulation
is purified, there in unimpaired cardiac function,
downward passage of gases and proper manifestation of the
urge for voiding flatus , urine and stool, then the
product of food does not vitiate the dhatus of the body,
but on the other hand it promotes longevity in its
entirety. So one should take food only after digestion of
the previous meal. |
Intake
of food having no contradictory potencies
One should take food having no contradictory potencies
e.g. - fruit salad, curd with fish. |
Intake
in proper place and with all accessories
One should take food in proper place equipped with all the
accessories. By doing so he does not affiliate with such
of the factors as would result in emotional strain which
(normally) occurs when one takes his food in improper
places without the required accessories. Therefore one
should take food in proper place equipped with all
accessories. |
Intake,
not in hurry and not too slow
One should not take food too hurriedly nor very slowly
because it effects the secretion of digestive enzymes. |
One
should take food with full concentration.
And should be confident enough that whatever food stuff he
is taking is good and beneficial to him and his health. |
| He alone
is a good physician who knows specific nature of rasas
(tastes) drugs, dhosas and diseases as well as habitat
time and physical constitution. |
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Copyright © 2004 www.indoindians.com
Last modified:
June 22, 2004
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