About Ayurveda

Introduction to Ayurveda

Ayu means life and Veda means knowledge, and so Ayurveda means the "Science of Life".  Ayurveda is the traditional Indian health system which is more than 5,000 years old and uses a constitution based model (the doshas) for determining your state of health.

Thousands of years ago, India’s Rishis and seers observed the rhythms of the universe and the interaction of the flow of energy throughout the body/mind during deep states of meditation – these insights form the basis of Ayurveda, the “Science of Life”, and were documented in ancient Indian texts such as the Charaka Samhita.

The Doshas

Dosha is a Sanskrit word meaning the one which can pollute the body, however all three are needed to create balance in the body. If one is too low or too high this produces imbalance. So this aggravation is called Vikriti and the balanced, innate state is called Prakriti.

Ayurveda describes three fundamental mind/body types, or doshas, called Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which embody different combinations of the five elements : air, ether, fire, water and earth. Each of us contain all doshas to varying degrees, and their balance can be determined through examination of your eyes, nails, tongue, skin, voice, by pulse diagnosis, and through the insight of the Ayurvedic practitioner. Because the five elements exist in us and in nature, your doshas can become aggravated or imbalanced due to inappropriate or inadequate diet, change of seasons, climate or lifestyle, and result in disease in the body.

Daily Routine

Ayurveda credits a consistent daily routine with maintaining balanced physical, mental and emotional health. According to their body type, seasonal and environmental factors, a person can avoid illness by implementing regular habits that span from morning to evening. When one performs these habits, the body falls into its natural biorhythms and biological patterns. For example, if one wakes at sunrise, their body will align with sun energy which helps to balance and regulate their metabolic system.

Food as Medicine

According to the Ayurvedic concept certain foods work like a medicine and rejuvenate the body system. For example: if a woman has a urinary/genital disorder or a kidney problem she should take fresh asparagus. Fresh asparagus taken for 21 days or 41 days in a year according to the condition, detoxifies and nourishes these particular systems.

Kalpa (course of food or herbs for certain period)

This is a method used in Ayurveda to rejuvenate the body system with herbs, medicine, food or minerals. The individual is to take the prescribed treatment for certain days, months or years , in certain quantity, and in certain seasons. For example: Aswagandha Withania - if this is taken with an appropriate vehicle (eg honey, warm milk) for a certain period then it gives sexual potency to a man if he has sexual debility.

Ayurvedic Preparations

Ayurvedic medicines are made from a combination of many herbs and minerals. Traditional Ayurvedic herbs are those native to the Indian subcontinent - Raman Das formulates a blend of these Indian herbs according to your needs after consultation.

Ayurvedic medicines and supplements are traditionally classified as being for Vata, Pitta or Kapha imbalances, and often one type of preparation is able to treat many disorders. One example is medication for sinus problems, which also works for digestion, influenza, headache, and general vitality. When Pitta is low then Fire (Agni) is low, and toxic substances start to accumulate in different channels of the body due to low metabolic rate. This creates congestion in the flow of energy in the different channels. When this occurs, blockage of the mind, no willpower, no inspiration, depression, anxiety, all sorts problems can result. 

Introduction to Yoga

Yoga is an ancient system of Hindu philosophy from India, and means union, co-ordination, harmony, balancing of mind, body and spirit. There are six Vedic philosophies of life, and among them two are about yoga - Sankhya yoga, and Patanjali yoga.

Sankhya yoga describes the origin of the universe, mind, body and spirit in great detail and is more theoretical in nature. It is very helpful in understanding the mystery of and different elements of the universe, and it also describes the function of sense organs, previous life, after death, birth and the universal cosmos.

Patanjali yoga explains the detailed philosophies and practice of the yoga system. This system is most popularly recognised as Yoga these days. The Classical text of this system is found in the form of aphorisms. Every aphorism of the Patanjali yoga sutras has a vast and complex meaning.  This text describes eight steps of the yoga system: 

Latest Research

Relax - its good for you (Sydney Morning Herald 19/08/2009)