Human life is full of events, from birth to the end of our life we come across a number of events. We experience successes & defeats; we celebrate birthdays & parties, marriages and anniversaries. Sometimes we also have to face sad events. With some minor differences almost all of us have the same experiences. One more thing is common to all of us and that is the 'occurrence of diseases'.

The occurrence of diseases in our life is almost uncontrolled. None of us likes the idea of being ill, but still whether we like it or not we are left with no choice but to suffer from these diseases.

All our life we always have to struggle to keep our selves fit. Is it possible for us to lead a disease free life? Is there anything that will help us to control the occurrence of diseases in our life and help us to maintain our health? The answer to all these questions is YES! It is definitely possible to lead a disease free life, and we can almost eliminate the occurrence of diseases from our life. AYURVEDA is the answer! Numerous People have been using this science of life and enjoying the disease free long life upto hundred years and even more..!

Let us try to know more about this promising and interesting science of Life i.e. Ayurveda.

What is Ayurveda?

 Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine has brought true health, happiness and well being to millions of individuals throughout the ages. This ancient art of healing has been practiced continuously for over 5,000 years and was the mainstream medicine in ancient times. It went through a difficult time in between but now has once again captured attention of all health concerned individuals’ world over.

Ayurveda is basically a fully developed medical science, having cure for almost all diseases known and unknown to mankind.  Its holistic approach, philosophy of life, its in-depth understanding of nature, and natural way of treating diseases makes it unique. Ayurvedic sages have addressed almost all problems of today’s age and have recommended solutions with a different approach, which are natural and are aimed at restoring the harmony of the body.

Ayurvedic treatments are safe and natural because the principles of Ayurveda are based on deep understanding of natural phenomena in the outer world and the inner body.

Like all other medical sciences the safety is ensured only when Ayurvedic treatments are taken from properly trained and qualified physicians and also when the formulations are prepared as per original Ayurvedic texts.

 Ayurvedic Physicians prefer to call Ayurveda as a way of life! Because it not only describes the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, it also tells us how to lead a healthy life. In short, it is a Life Style Option for well being!

Ayurveda is the only medical science in this universe, which is useful even when we are not ill. All other medical sciences come into picture only when we fall ill. Whereas Ayurveda can be equally helpful even when we are fit and fine. Ayurveda is a complete science of Health that is useful in all walks of life starting from birth, neonates, infants, child hood, youth, old age etc and even life before and after death.

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word made up of two parts Ayu and Veda. Ayu means life and Veda means Knowledge. In other words, Ayurveda means a science comprising complete Knowledge about all aspects of life. To maintain the health of all and to cure the patients suffering from diseases is the motto of Ayurveda.

Now a days the diseases are treated symptomatically with a superficial approach with almost no or very little attention for its complete cure, whereas Ayurveda believes in total & permanent cure of diseases.

For many people the image of Ayurveda is limited to use of only Herbal or home/kitchen remedies, traditional medicine giving a completely different picture of Ayurveda.  Whereas Ayurveda is a more serious medical science, which strongly emphasizes on the diagnosis, examination, analyzing the causes of disease, diet, medicinal properties, the dose (exact qty), frequency of the medicine and the medium with which it should be consumed. These factors are very crucial in achieving complete cure. It has described a totally different way of treating diseases called as Panchakarma, which no other system of medicine has described.

Panchakarma

The word Panchakarma comes from classical Ayurvedic texts and means literally "five therapies". These are the subtly harmonizing purification procedures that dissolve metabolic waste products and toxins generated due to the environmental ill effects from the body's tissues in a gentle and effective way and eliminate them from the body. These extremely pleasant relaxing treatments enliven the bodies own self-healing powers bringing about a profound and lasting rejuvenation.

Ayurveda-in a Nut-Shell

• Ancient Indian system of medicine, which is in practice since 5000 years.
• More than medicine it is a science of life or a way of life.
• Useful to anybody and everybody all over the world irrespective of any country, religion, caste or creed.
• Ayurveda has a natural way of treating diseases, holistic approach.
• No side effects.
• Ayurvedic system relies on making the body strong and pure from inside rather than relying completely on external medicines.
• Ayurvedic system awakens the divine healer inside the body, rather than treating only the diseases.
• Ayurvedic practices restore the balance and harmony of the individual, resulting in self-healing, good health and longevity.
• Panchakarma - the specialty of Ayurveda are extremely pleasant relaxing treatments that cure the disease completely and permanently.

Health and Wellness
Health and wellness is the basis thing of everything that we desire out of our life. Doesn’t matter whether we want to have fun, go on a holiday or work like a horse to earn money, the first thing that we require to pursue anything in our life is health.

A lot is being talked about health, the more we talk and read the more complicated it gets. 

Achieving Health and Wellness seems very simple when we read but implementing the recommendations is not easy and many times results into nothing.

Most of the websites and books who talk about Wellness end up in advising long lists of check ups and products which ultimately drain out your hard earned money.  For achieving health and experiencing wellness, health check ups, blood tests and health products are not the things that we need. What we need is the knowledge! Knowledge is the key to avoid diseases and improve the quality of your health.

Ayurveda is more known as the science of life rather than a system of medicine because it is probably the only medical science which is useful even when we are not ill.

Ayurveda and Yoga
Ayurveda and Yoga are the two ancient Indian sciences in existence for the betterment of mankind. There is tremendous increase in the interest about these two sciences all over the world. People coming for yoga come across Ayurveda frequently and people coming to Ayurveda are interested to know about Yoga. Both these sciences cannot be practiced or studied without reference to each other. Why are they referred together? Is there any relation? If yes How? What is the relation?

Relation of Ayurveda & Yoga
Ayurveda and Yoga are very strongly related to each other.

Both sciences share the same philosophical base and are written in the same language. They originate from the same place i.e. India.

Sankhya Darshan, Yoga Darshan, Nyaya Darshan, Vaisheshika Darshan, Jain Darshan and Baudha Darshan are the six basic philosophies of Indian culture, which also form the basis of philosophy of Ayurveda. Present form of Yoga is a small part of the Yoga darshan.

Ayurveda is called, as the science of life and was the principal system of medicine in ancient India. Ayurveda deals with the physical, mental and spiritual health of a person, where as Yoga is primarily related to the spiritual development of the person.

Ayurveda is a full-fledged medicine and its graduates are trained to diagnose and treat other person’s problems.

Both these sciences have a common ultimate goal for life i.e. liberation of Soul and union with the universal soul.

Yoga practises are an important component of line of treatment in Ayurveda.

Ahara i.e. Diet, Vihar i.e daily routine and Aushadha i.e Medicine, these are the three components of the line of treatment of any disease in Ayurveda. Ayurveda has listed Yogic practises under Vihara Chikitsa.

Ancient yogic texts suggest that yogic practises need to be done only by persons who do not suffer from any illnesses. While practising yoga if there are any illnesses proper medicines should be and can be used.

Yoga Shastra theory and practical is taught as a part of the curriculum of second year of the Degree Course in Ayurveda (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery) in each and every Ayurvedic College and all universities in India.

Yoga uses the anatomy, physiology of Ayurveda and names of diseases and body conditions described by Ayurveda. Yogic system uses the terminology of Ayurveda while describing the effects & benefits of Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Yogic kriyas etc.

The Six kriyas described in yoga and the Panchakarma procedures described in Ayurveda are also very similar. The aim of the yogic six kriyas and panchakarma is elimination of toxins or purification of the body. Though the Panchakarma procedures described in Ayurveda are extremely elaborate and are described exhaustivey with minute details. This is because the yogic kriyas are mainly for individual use especially of the yogis in order to get rid of the periodic aggravation of the doshas, which act as an obstacle in the yoga sadhana of the yogis.

Yogis have a very developed intellect and have a balanced life style with predominantly satvik diet, whereas laymen have an irregular and undisciplined life style and mostly tamsik diet. Obviously the purification procedures for the people of these two categories will be different. Hence yogic kriyas, described for the yogis, are simple and can be done by anybody with minimum training and even without supervision. Whereas the panchakarma procedures described for  laymen are more complicated and cannot be performed without medical supervision. 

Historical references suggest that Patanjali Muni, the Honourable sage who has written Patanjala yoga sutra, which is a very respectable work on Yoga, Sage called Panini author of the Book on Sanskrit grammer and Acharya Charak who has written the most respectable text of Ayurveda called as Charak Samhita are actually the same person. Many Scholars agree to this view as the period of these persons is the same and the style is very similar also there are many references which suggest striking similarity in these persons. Few scholars though are of the opinion that they are actually different persons.

Yoga is incomplete without Ayurveda and Ayurveda is incomplete without Yoga, hence both these sciences are inseparable and very much complimentary to each other. Long lasting health and wellness is easily achieved if we incorporate both these sciences in our life.