BASIC ELEMENTS OF AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is the most ancient and traditional science. The basic principles of Ayurveda deal with the natural way of living a healthy life. People are understanding how difficult is to survive in today's world without any disease. In that case Ayurveda teaches the perfect way of leading a healthy life. The knowledge of ayurveda is divided into eight parts. Hence it is also known as Ashtanga Ayurveda. These are as follows: Kaya, Bal, Graha, Urdhwa, Shalya, Dhanstra, Jara, Vrishan. According to Ayurveda's basic concept of human body there are seven body types. They are as follows:

• Mono-types (vata, pitta or kapha predominant),

• Dual types (vata-pitta, pitta-kapha or, kapha-vata), and

• Equal types, (vata, pitta and kapha in equal proportions).

Every individual has a unique combination of these three Doshas. To understand the uniqueness of every individual is the very basis of Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda all humans are governed by three vital principles, which regulate and control the biological functions. They are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. According to Ayurveda, doshas are of vital importance because they are responsible for coordinating, guiding and directing all the structures and substances of the body. Proper understanding and knowledge of the doshas give us the understanding of the functioning of the intelligence that commands the dhatus (body tissues) and malas (waste products) and gives the body its vast functional capability. The theory of three doshas is the basic foundation of Ayurvedic science and its diagnosis and treatment modalities. The main functions of the following three doshas are as follows:
 

All motions, transportation and electromagnetic activities are controlled by vata. Whereas Pitta represents fire principle and is concerned with process of conversion, consumption and other chemical changes taking place in the living body. Kapha is the principle of water and as such every living cell is pervaded by it in order to perform their functions. Each of the three doshas has its own unique characters, which are contrary to each other so as to maintain the equilibrium.

What Makes Ayurveda So Unique?

This spiritual science offers numerous unique benefits:
It looks at people as individuals, not as a generic group.
It heals from the root-cause of an illness, not merely treating the symptoms.
Only natural therapies are offered.
No side effects develop from the therapies.
Therapies are inexpensive and effective

What Therapies Does Ayurveda Offer?

Using a holistic approach, Ayurveda offers therapies for each of the five senses because different people learn better through different senses. Therapies include;
 

Taste: Herbs and nutrition.
Touch:Massage (abhyanga), Yoga, exercise.
Smell: Aromatherapy.
Sight: Color therapy.
Hearing: Music therapy, mantra meditation, chanting. Spiritual therapies include meditation, living ethically, and working in a career that one loves or is purposeful.

Environmental factors are also considered from this holistic outlook. These therapies include house, apartment and office structure and astrological effects. These are sciences unto themselves. Vedic architecture (Vastu Shastra) and Chinese Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway) deal with the laws of nature that integrate the earth, the person and the planets and stars. The exterior and interior design of buildings can also enhance balance or cause imbalance. Vedic astrology (Jyotish) is the science of understanding the laws of nature of the planets and stars, and how they influence us.