WHAT IS AYURVEDA?
Ayurveda is a holistic health, science and philosophy system dating back
well over 5000 years and first encountered in the Indus Valley Civilization
(The Land of the Gods). In Sanskrit, the most ancient Indian language, Ayurveda
means “The Science of Life” and according to Hindu philosophy,
it is believed to be the God’s gift to mankind.
In modern times, Ayurveda is successfully practised in many countries and
is recognised by the World Health Organisation.
The philosophy of Ayurveda is linked to sacred and ancient texts – the
Vedas. One of its fundamental concepts is that all matter in the Universe
is composed of five elements: air, fire, water, earth and space, which combine
inside the human body in varying combinations to form three doshas (biological
forces) – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These doshas, fixed at conception,
form the basis of our physical constitution, mental capacities and emotional
make-up. Ayurveda views the balance of doshas as health and their imbalance
as disease.
