Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic medicine is often called the “science of life” and encompasses all of the ancient teachings of Ayurveda from the Ayurvedic physicians of Charaka, Sushruta, Vagbhata, Madhava and Sharangadhara. These sages or rishis interpreted the ancient texts of the Vedas which are over 10,000 years old. Through their interpretations they compiled the Ayurvedic medicine “manuals” called the Charaka Samhita, the Sushruta Samhita and the Ashtanga Hridhaya and the Ashtanga Sangraha. These Ayurvedic medicine texts outline recommendations and routines for how to live a healthy and long life. It also teaches us how to live in harmony with nature and with the cycles of life.

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What Does Ayurvedic Mean?

What Does Ayurvedic Mean?

Many people ask the question, “what does Ayurvedic mean?” To define something as Ayurvedic means that it follows the principles of Ayurveda. Ayurveda is often called the “science of life” and encompasses all of the ancient teachings of Ayurveda from the sages of Charaka, Sushruta, Vagbhata, Madhava and Sharangadhara. These sages or rishis interpreted the ancient texts of the Vedas which are over 10,000 years old. Through their interpretations they compiled the Ayurvedic “manuals” called the Charaka Samhita, the Sushruta Samhita and the Ashtanga Hridhaya and the Ashtanga Sangraha. These texts outline recommendations and routines for how to live a healthy and long life. It also teaches us how to live in harmony with nature and with the cycles of life.

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Ayurvedic Principles

Ayurvedic Principles

Ayurvedic medicine relies on two main principles when offering treatments or chikitsas of “like increases like” and “opposites balance”. These two Ayurvedic principles determine every treatment plan for a client or patient. By utilizing the 20 main qualities, an Ayurvedic professional can use the Ayurvedic principles to create a complimentary treatment, diet and lifestyle plan that brings the body, the mind and the spirit into balance.

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Ayurveda Definition

Ayurveda Definition

There are many ways to define Ayurveda, but I think the best is to look at the Ayurvedic definition of health outlined in the Sushruta Samhita: “One who is established in Self, who has balanced dosha, balanced agni (digestive fire), properly formed dhatu (tissue systems of the body.), proper elimination of mala (wastes products), well functioning srotamsi (bodily processes) and whose mind, soul and senses are full of ananda (bliss), is called a healthy person.”

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History and Origin of Ayurveda

History and Origin of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is an Indian medical science that is over 5,000 years old. Some consider it to be the oldest form of medicine in the world. In fact Ayurveda is first mentioned in the great historical books of India called the Vedas which were compiled around 1200 B.C. The great Ayurvedic Physicians Charaka and Sushruta then interpreted the Ayurvedic information from the Vedas and each wrote Samhitas which are collections of medical teachings or sacred texts. These Samhitas are written as stanzas of prose and Ayurvedic Physicians still memorize and lyrically recite them.

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