What is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda, an ancient medicine system originating from the Indian subcontinent, has been around for approximately 5000 years. Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘ayus’, meaning 'life', and ‘veda’, meaning 'science'. The combination of these words results in the term 'Ayurveda', which translates to the 'science of life'. Ayurveda prioritizes healthy living over disease treatment, setting it apart from other medicinal systems. The key idea behind Ayurveda is the personalization of the healing process.
In Ayurveda, the human body consists of four primary elements - dosha, dhatu, mala, and agni. These elements are known as the ‘Mool Siddhant’ or the ‘basic fundamentals of Ayurvedic treatment’.
Dosha refers to the three essential principles of vata, pitta, and kapha, which work together to regulate the body's anabolic and catabolic metabolism. The doshas are responsible for transporting the byproducts of digested food throughout the body, which in turn assists in building up body tissues. Any malfunction in these doshas can result in disease.
Dhatu is defined as the body's support system, comprising seven tissue systems, namely Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda, Asthi, Mjja, and Shukra. These tissues provide essential nutrients to the body, facilitating growth and structure of the mind.
Mala refers to waste products or impurities, which are the third element in the trinity of the body alongside doshas and dhatu. The body has three primary types of waste products, including stool, urine, and sweat. It is crucial to excrete these waste products from the body properly to maintain an individual's proper health. Mala has two aspects - mala and kitta - with mala relating to waste products from the body and kitta relating to waste products from the dhatus.
Finally, agni plays a vital role in all metabolic and digestive activities in the body. Agni refers to the biological fire in the body, which comprises various enzymes present in the elementary canal, liver, and tissue cells
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