Ayurveda is the science of life as
is very clear from the constituting words i.e., "Ayu" meaning
the life, and "Veda" meaning Knowledge. It is one of the oldest
scientific medical systems of the world with a long record of clinical
experience. Ayurveda is probably as old as the mankind. There are now
enough incidences to show that this is the mother of most of the systems
of medicine.
As a system of medicine, Ayurveda made a beginning on this universe when
there was a strong spread of diseases among people in the Vedic period
(the period when Vedas were written in ancient India). It is therefore
that for the protection of health of people our ancient saints gathered
in the mountains of the Himalayas. It is from there that the flow of knowledge
of Ayurveda started. The complete history of how it evolved since its
beginning is described elsewhere.
The objectives with
which Ayurvedic system of medicine started are two fold.
1. To maintain the health of a healthy person.
2. To cure the disease of the sick.
For meeting the above two objectives various dietary regimens, behavioral
patterns, sleep patterns, exercise along with medicines and medical and
surgical methods of treatment have been described.
Ayurveda gives us a complete knowledge of the whole life of an individual right from conception to death and even beyond that. Ayurveda is a science based upon observation of living things and their actual response and their reactions to their environment. It deals with various aspects of life. It encompasses not only medicinal approach but also deals in good details about the spiritualism and philosophy.
More
than a medical system, Ayurveda is a way of life, a way of cooperating
with nature and living in harmony with nature. It believes that human
being is a part of nature and whatever lies in nature, there is a corresponding
representation of similar elements in the body as well. Therefore one
has to always live in harmony with nature and one should never try to
go against nature. We are well acquainted with the consequences which
we are face if we try to go against the laws of nature.
Ayurveda is extensively used all over the world in various forms. Many
home remedies are used for the treatment of minor and major aliments.
But the scope of Ayurveda does not limit itself to these minor home remedies.
An
Ayurvedic physician considers human being as a whole and does not account
the parts of the body as isolated organs for the purpose of either understanding
or for treatment of diseases. Body, Mind and Soul are considered as essential
elements for causation of all illnesses. Therefore even while treatment
also all these factors have to be considered. The diseases are caused
by disturbance in the equilibrium of Doshas that are circulating all over
the body.