What Is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda, commonly referred to as “The Science of Life,'' originated in ancient India over 5,000 years ago, making it the oldest, most continuously practiced form of medicine known to humankind. The origins of Ayurveda come from the Artha Veda, one of the four Vedic texts. The Vedas are religious and spiritual texts from ancient India, originally written in Sanskrit on palm leaves, containing ancient knowledge on daily living that promotes a happy, healthy, spiritual, and sattvic life. 

This ancient, holistic healing science focuses on prevention and has many Ayurvedic treatments and herbal remedies to return each individual to a balanced state. These treatments and herbal remedies include:

• Oil therapies to calm the nervous system, relieve stress, sharpen the senses, and improve sleep

  • Abhyanga - full body oil application that can be done by yourself or by a practitioner

  • Shiro Dhara - oil will flow from a vessel hanging above your head in a melodic rhythm across the forehead

• Panchakarma - full body detoxification. These 5 actions can be administered by an Ayurvedic Vaidya to remove the root of disease from the body.

• Seasonal and daily routines with specific guidelines to address each individual’s current needs. For example, fall and spring are the best seasons to cleanse because of the accumulation of vata and kapha doshas that need to be removed from the system.

• Ayurvedic Herbs, many of which are beginning to be seen on the shelves of grocery stores and pharmacies in the US such as Ashwagandha, Turmeric, Amalaki, and Guduchi among many others. However, Ayurvedic Herbology is a complex science and every herb is not necessarily beneficial for every person. Be sure to speak with an Ayurvedic Eductor prior to incorporating any Ayurvedic herbs in your routine. 

  
  Incorporating Ayurvedic regimes and practices into one’s life can be beneficial to calm the mind, invigorate the body, and awaken the soul helping you to live a conscious life. To learn more about Ayurveda, please contact me directly or read about the basic principles here.