What is Ayurveda?

February 28, 2018Last Updated: January 4, 2023

3 minutes read

The science that deals with and explain the amicable (or favorable) & hostile (or unfavorable) conditions, pleasance (or happiness) & pain (or unhappiness) in the life and further preventive, conductive (or regime) and nonconductive (or restrictive) measures are provided for these is known as Ayurveda. ⁽¹⁾

Definition of Ayurveda

Concisely, Ayurvedic Science is a holistic health science of prevention, prognostics, diagnostics, causes, pathogenesis, diseases and their management or treatment.

The origination of Ayurveda is from Sanskrit Language. In Sanskrit, it means the conscience of living happily and healthily. In other words, Ayurveda is the science of life. We can divide Ayurveda word into two Sanskrit words – Ayur and Veda. Ayur adverts to the life and living. Veda refers to the branch of scientific knowledge or science.⁽²⁾

In fact, Ayurveda is the life science that includes everything that may concern to life, food, dietary habits, balanced nutrition, lifestyle, exercises, yoga, conductive and non-conductive things, health conditions and their treatments.

Ayurveda Introduction

Ayurvedic science is a system of natural healing and a science of prevention and natural cure for various health conditions.

It provides very useful information and tips to live longer as well as healthier life.

Ayurveda is the most ancient modality of healing systems in the whole world.

Ayurvedic medicine is also recognized by World Health Organization (WHO) as Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).

Approximately, 90 percent of Indian people use Ayurveda once in their life for treating their diseases.

Around 10 billion people all around the world use ayurvedic medicine as home remedy and basic home cure for several common diseases, including common cold, cough, stomach pain, constipation, stress, memory loss, general weakness etc.

Ayurveda is the only science of ancient times, which had explained health and medical science in systematic and biological manners.

Ayurveda Contribution to Health Sciences

There are following important points regarding to its contribution to health sciences:

Surgery and surgical techniques such as plastic surgery is originated from ancient text of Ayurveda, which is known as Sushruta Samhita.
Ayurvedic science has provided a systematic description of health, diseases, causes and predisposing factors of diseases.
Moreover, Ayurveda is only science, which has also described about prognostics (early sign and symptoms of a disease about to happen), diagnostic signs and symptoms of disease, treatments and prevention techniques in details.
In addition, it introduces Rasayana Chikitsa (Rejuvenation Science). It is the only health science that treats the disease before they occur. Ayurvedic science has developed natural medicines that prevent diseases as well as rejuvenate the body.
Ayurvedic science introduces the treatment principles and management guidelines based on Tridosha Theory, Five Element Theory, and Seven Body Constructional Element Theory.
In the most instances, Ayurveda categorizes the disease based on three Doshas: Vata Dosha, Pitta Dosha, and Kapha Dosha.
Ayurvedic science uses the inherent principles of nature and it maintains proper health. It also conserves perfect equilibrium by keeping one’s body, mind and spirit in a harmony with nature.
Ayurvedic science plays an important role in one’s lifestyle. It guides on how to adjust the lifestyle based on the season change. It helps in keeping the calm, making good decision and improving the overall quality of life.
Ayurveda introduces a unique theory of “Anshansh Kalpana”. Everyone has unique body type and unique composition of Dosha in the development of a disease. Accordingly, everyone requires unique medicines to cure the disease. This means medicine can be different for each individual even for the same disease. This also means that each medicine will not be suitable for all people. Ayurvedic treatment requires customized approach for everyone.