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Ayurveda is a science that practices the traditional medicine of India. It is the complete solution to lifestyle, medicine, diet, yoga and meditation and established on basic life principles that values the ancient system applied in modern life. Ayurveda has been known to exist for more than 5,000 years ago but the principles of it have been practiced until present time.
Understanding Ayurveda
Anyone can practice Ayurveda in their lives to aid in holistic healing aiming to make one feel and live better. People can benefit from the natural and wellness being promised by Ayurveda. To understand it better, let us take a look at the five elements embodying it. This teaching revolves around five basic elements: fire, water, air, earth and space. Everything that occupies space---matter—is composed of these elements. Our food, body and the environment is all made up of these main elements of nature.
We have specific proportion of these elements, and we recognize how important each element is for us. Ayurveda enables us to make right choices in order to promote balance in our lives.
Each of us is born with particular composition of elements which is called Prakruti or “constitution.” There are aspects that influence our constitution since we are born with:
- Heredity
- Past life
- Karma
- Our parents health condition during conception
- Astrology
- Utero environment
Ayurveda practices on the belief that everything about life revolves around three-energy elements, including food, people, animals, diseases, universe and nature. The three elements of energy known to embody this are Vata (air), Kaphe (water) and Pitta (fire). Ayurveda believes that when all of these elements are balanced in our lives, we will live healthier. When one person acquires an illness, it is said that he lost balance of these three main principles.
Let us have an Example….
Every person has a dosha or constitution which is one of these elements. Every element is related to one’s body type, health and food concerns. No matter what constitution a person has, however, he tends to have an imbalance.
Let’s say you belong in the Vata dosha, typically you are bony and skinny. When you are in the excess of air, you may develop cracking bones, constipation and dry skin. The mental signs that you excess air is within you includes worry, anxiety, nervousness and fear. When the air constitution of a person is balance, however, he is adaptive, creative, and has no physical problems.
According to the principles of Ayurveda, foods can be classified in two categories: (1.) food that increases air and (2.) food that reduces air. If you want to reduce air indulge in eating steamed or cooked foods every four hours. Examples of foods that decrease air are mung beans, rice and carrots; Baked beans, and barley increases air.
Based from the above example, you will recognize that Ayurveda teaches us to live a balanced life. No matter what “constitution” we are made of, we still have to apply moderation in everything we eat and do. Perhaps improving one’s lifestyle is also vital to balance our lives. Balancing promotes prevention or healing of diseases, and eventually reverses the process of aging.
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