History of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the oldest medical system in the world. Its origins date back to nearly 5000 years ago in India. The fundamentals of Ayurveda can be found in ancient vedic literatures, the ancient books of wisdom. The term Ayurveda is derived from two Sanskrit roots, ayur meaning life and veda meaning science, so Ayurveda is the science of life. Apart from the system of healing, it is a way of living.

The main sources of knowledge of Ayurveda remain in ancient books namely Atharva veda (Ayurveda is considered as the sub session of Atharvaveda), Charaka Samhita, Susruta samhita and many other treatise, most of them are available still today. Acharya Susruta, author of Susruta samhita is considered as the ‘Father of Surgery’. Atharvaveda which dates back to 1000 BC gives systematic references of eight branches of Ayurveda (Astanga Ayurveda), namely internal medicine, surgery, ENT and ophthalmology, toxicology, psychiatry, pediatrics and gynecology, geriatrics and rejuvenation (rasayana); and branch of fertility and sex (vajeekarana).

Concept of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is an eternal science. It helps to understand the value of life. The whole universe is made up of five elements - Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. Likewise our body is also made up of five basic elements. This combination makes the physiology of body. In a living body this combination of elements is re- categorized as functional particles called tridoshas. They are three - Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Vata is formed by the combination of ether and air and is responsible for movement and control. Pitta is formed by the combination of fire and water. It is responsible for the metabolic activity and digestion in the body. Kapha is a mixture of water and earth. It helps in the lubrication and maintaining structure of the body. These three doshas when in a balance work together and perform functions and help to maintain the structure of the body. There for the equilibrium of the doshas is said to be health and its unbalanced state is regarded as disease. Ayurveda advises diets and regimens to maintain the body in a balanced state.

Each individual have unique proportions of these three doshas. This unique proportion is responsible for his/her uniqueness. It is called prakruti (body type). Understanding of body type is an important step in the caring of our body.