Ayurveda (meaning “the science of life”) is one of the oldest systems of natural health care.  Having evolved among the Brahmin sages of ancient India some 3,000-5,000 years ago, Ayurveda and variations of it have also been practiced for centuries in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Tibet.  Now considered one of the leading forms of holistic medicine available in the West, Ayurveda addresses all factors that influence our quality of life.

The principles of Ayurveda state that nothing exists in isolation, so that everything you interact with, your diet, family, work or relationships, has an effect on your health and well being. One guiding principle of Ayurveda is that mind and body are connected and that the mind has a profound influence over our health and well-being. While conventional Western medicine is still grounded in the paradigm of mind-body separation, Ayurveda holds that health is more than the absence of disease; it is a dynamic state of balance and integration of body, mind, and spirit.  Ayurveda focuses on establishing and maintaining balance of the life energies within us, rather than on individual symptoms.  Although two people may appear to have the same outward symptoms, their energetic constitutions may be very different; by recognizing the unique constitutional differences of all individuals, Ayurveda recommends different regimens for different types of people.

Ayurvedic treatments are primarily dietary and herbal.  They include preventative healthcare for the entire family; strategies for defeating addictions; and food, purification and rejuvenation treatments prescribed with respect to one’s individual nature, work, social circumstance, age, and season; practical and effective approaches to maintain a healthy weight through constitutionally-determined diet, exercise, herbs, spices, teas, breathing, and psychological aids; and specific treatment plans.  Ayuerveda also encompasses beauty and cosmetic treatments for men and women, including skin, hair, eyes, posture, body odor and general appearance.

http://www.chopra.com/124066.html

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/ayurveda/#ayurveda

http://niam.com/corp-web/definition.html

Copyright 2007 Raquel Lazar-Paley