What is Ayurveda?
The Science of Life
Ayurveda is one of the oldest extant health systems in the world with fundamental principles and theory-based practices. The Sanskrit word Ayurveda translates to “knowledge of life”. Based on the idea that disease is due to an imbalance or stress in a person’s consciousness, Ayurveda encourages certain lifestyle interventions and natural therapies to regain a balance between the body, mind, spirit, and the environment. Learn more about Ayurvedic practices and the benefits they can offer…
Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems , developed more than 5,000 years ago in India. It’s based on the knowledge that health and wellness depend on a balance between the mind, body, and spirit. Its main goal is to promote good health, not fight disease. But treatments may be geared toward specific health problems.
Based on the idea that bodily symptoms directly result from imbalances in the patient’s diet, lifestyle, and psyche, deficiencies can be identified based on a patient’s individual symptoms.
Many people around the world have encountered or at least heard of Ayurveda, but this knowledge is still predominantly only available in India – it‘s one of India’s national treasures. The goal of Alveda is to bring this knowledge to the world, giving anyone the opportunity to receive professional advice from an Ayurvedic doctor.
It’s thought that Ayurvedic traditional medicine began during the Vedic period of ancient India, over 5,000 years ago. It is referred to in ancient texts along with yoga. When India gained independence, the practice of Ayurveda blossomed into a popular healthcare practice.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that Western communities started to take notice of this holistic approach and the potential benefits. Since then, it has steadily been growing in popularity around the globe as a way to promote good health and balance.
Ayurveda has wide-ranging benefits for the body, mind and spirit. The central goal is to prevent disease. Following Ayurvedic practices could help to prevent and manage symptoms related to many different conditions, from anxiety to heart disease. It also promotes overall health and wellbeing, for example:
- Improving sleep
- Improving the quality and appearance of hair and skin
- Giving you more energy
- Establishing healthy routines
- Supporting your immune system
- Creating a holistic sense of balance in body and mind
Ayurveda is based on nature and balance. By identifying any imbalances or health issues, ayurvedic practitioners can work with you to heal these naturally through lifestyle changes and the addition of specific foods, herbs, spices or supplements into your diet.
Our bodies are made of certain basic mind-body elements or life forces, called Doshas. Symptoms of illness are simply the reflection of the imbalance in one’s Doshas. To balance these, therapists prescribe medicines which help remove impurities, treat symptoms and boost immunity.
These include herbs, spices, oils and other natural ingredients. Practitioners study your body and help identify your constitution, and then create a recovery plan specifically designed for you.
In Ayurvedic medicine, there are twenty qualities that describe every person or thing. These are grouped into opposites and used to assess imbalance and prescribe solutions. For example, a person needs to balance soft and hard natures in order to maintain equilibrium and optimum health.
According to Ayurvedic principles, everyone has a combination of three physical and emotional characteristics or energy types; Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Usually, one or two Ayurvedic doshas are more dominant in each person. Any disturbances in the balance between the three energies can result in disease.
All our consultants are carefully selected and have been awarded a BAMS professional degree.
As long as heavy metals are avoided in unsafe quantities, Ayurvedic practices should be safe. Certain Ayurvedic herbs may produce side effects or interact with conventional medications. To avoid these, inform your doctor if you are using or intend to use any other medicines and talk to your Ayurvedic medical practitioner.
Today, in medical circles, Ayurveda is widely recognized as a system of complementary medicine and has reached the threshold of entry into the realm of evidence-based science.
The practice has been used for centuries and the majority of people in India use Ayurvedic medicine to some degree.
In our consultations, we have seen our remedies help patients witness a remarkable improvement in their condition long after they had lost hope with Western medicine. We deliver personalised health plans for over 400 conditions and work on eliminating them quickly and providing you with the relief you need.
Ayurveda can be adapted to every individual, which makes it a good solution for symptoms of common conditions and diseases. Ayurvedic doctors treat a large number of health issues including everything from colds to digestive disorders, joint pain, psychological issues and even cancer.
For example, joint pain is caused by imbalances in one’s Vata, since the Vata dosha also known as the Air Element in our body is responsible for bones and joints. Suggested remedies can include physical exercises like yoga, pranayama or yogic breathing exercises and a balanced diet. The urinary system is governed by a delicate balance of all three doshas. Remedies for urinary disorders include purification, detoxification, drinking lots of water and meditation.
Ancient Ayurvedic physicians produced detailed descriptions of acute and chronic conditions (along with causes, signs, and symptoms) and developed extensive holistic treatment protocols. Preventive care and treatment of illnesses fall under the eight branches of Ayurveda, which include:
- Kayachikitsa – Internal Medicine
- Bhuta Vidya – Psychiatry
- Bala Chikitsa – Paediatrics
- Shalakya Tantra – Ear, Nose and Throat Treatment
- Shalya Tantra – Surgery (not commonly practised today)
- Vishagra Vairodh Tantra – Toxicology
- Jarachikitsa/Rasayana – Geriatrics and Rejuvenation
- Vajikarana — Aphrodisiac Therapy, Fertility, and Conception
At Alveda, our practitioners are well qualified and have a wide range of specialisations. We work on always providing patients with the highest quality medical attention which not only treats your symptoms but also enables holistic health throughout your life.
If you have a condition you need help with, want to learn about your body or just wish to learn about leading a healthy lifestyle, why not book a consultation with Alveda?
First, choose an Ayurvedic doctor based on your condition and their speciality. Next, choose a date and time to book a consultation. After you have completed your Alveda profile you can log in before the scheduled appointment to begin your consultation.
Consultations can cover everything from treatment to information for patients on leading a healthy Ayurvedic lifestyle.
With a community of over 900 doctors, access to authentic Ayurveda remotely, secure and confidential advice, and affordable, flexible pricing, we hope our care brings you relief and fulfilment and that we can help you achieve your best self in mind, body and spirit.
With Alveda, you can receive professional advice from one of over 900 physicians in India from the comfort of your home. All of the experienced practitioners on our platform are qualified with a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery degree. Find the right match for your health concern by searching for relevant profiles.