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An Insight into this 5000 Year Old Ancient Science of
Healing
(By: Dr.Mary Jo Cravatta)
In recent years, we have begun hearing more about the ancient
healing art of Ayurveda. What has brought on this current interest?
With our ever rising growth in consciousness, we are recognizing our
oneness with the world around us. Sensing that we are an integral
part of nature--not separate from nature--it's becoming increasingly
more obvious that we must learn to live in accordance with these
laws of nature.
Modern society has brought many wonderful advancements. Yet at the
same time, as we slip further, and further from our connectedness
with nature, we are seeing an increase in dis-ease and
dis-harmony.
Out of this lack of perfect balance comes the desire to improve the
overall quality of our lives. It is this knowing that there is more
to our lives that brings the quest for a greater sense of
well-being.
Ayurveda, which literally means "the science of life", is the
natural healing system used throughout India. Ayurveda was
originally known to have been first developed, and established by
the great sages who developed India's original systems of
meditation, and Yoga over 5,000 years ago.
The study of Ayurveda includes such aspects as herbal medicine,
dietetics, body work, surgery, psychology, and
spirituality. Ayurveda deals not merely with medical science, but also with the
social, ethical, intellectual, and spiritual life of a man.
Ayurveda represents a beautiful blending of the accuracy of science,
and the sublimity of philosophy, poetry, and art. According to
Ayurveda, a living creature is composed of soul, mind, and body. It
is the compound of these three elements that is the subject matter
of the science of life.
The human body according to Ayurveda, is composed of the three
fundamental elements called doshas, dhatus, and malas. The doshas
govern the physio-chemical, and physiological activities of the
body, while the dhatus enter into the formation of a basic structure
of a body cell, thereby performing some specific actions.
The malas are substances which are partly excreted in a modified
form after serving their physiological functions. These three
elements are said to be in a dynamic equilibrium with each other for
the maintenance of health. Any imbalance of their relative
preponderance in the body result in disease and illness.
PANCHA MAHABHUTAS THEORY: A person has five senses. And through
these senses he or she perceives the external world in five
different ways. The sense organs are the ears, skin, eyes, tongue,
and nose. Through these sense organs, the external object is not
only perceived, but also absorbed into the human body in the form of
energy.
These five types of senses known as the five mahabhutas, are the
basis on which the entire universe is divided, grouped, or
classified. They are named as akasha (sky), vayu (air), agni (fire),
jala (water), and prithvi (earth).
As discussed, the body of an individual is composed of five
mahabhutas. Similarly, in other extraneous matters there are also
five mahabhutas. In the human body, these five mahabhutas are
represented in the form of doshas, dhatus, and malas. Outside the
body, they form the basic ingredients of the drugs, and food
ingredients .
In a normal body of a living being, these substances remain in a
particular proportion. However, because of enzymatic action inside
the human body, this ratio of five mahabhutas, or their equilibrium
inside the body gets disturbed, The body has however, a natural
tendency to maintain equilibrium. It eliminates some of the
mahabhutas which are in excess, and takes some of the mahabhutas
which are in shortage.
This shortage of mahabhutas is replenished through the ingredients
of herbs, food, drinks, etc.
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