Secrets Of Ayurveda

The elderly seniors in India tend to bless the youngsters to live a long life. This is not merely a wish. There are myths and legends across India which depict warriors or sages living 100s of years. Not too far in the past, there are proofs of sages and monks crossing the 100-year barrier.
These monks generally lived their life, on the lines of traditionally self-disciplined lives. They performed yoga and meditation regularly to keep both physically and mentally fit. The secret to their long life was - proper diet, sleep, and self-control, i.e., the basics of Ayurveda.

Aim to Live Long

It is indeed strange that though we call the world a global village, the distances between the people are larger than ever. People do not feel real connections with each other. Unlike the western values which though progressive are materialistic, the old Indian system was more familial and based on bonding. The youngsters used to listen to old people. In fact, it is the old and wise who used to dominate. Hence, people would actually look forward to old age. Modern life revolves only around the youth or till the time you are in charge. In the modern world, we see the ugly shade of people trying to avoid old age. The domination of anti-aging products in the global cosmetic industry is a witness to it.
To live long is an intrinsic desire which emerges from the basic instinct of survival. History is filled with examples of super successful people, especially monarchs, longing to live forever.

Consume Healthy Foods

Food is a basic necessity for human beings. Humans can’t survive without food. In the modern era, humans due to the age of abundance (at least in the western world) have reduced food to a matter of taste. Food will always be one of the most important factors in the life span of a person. It secures both physical and mental health.

Get Adequate Sleep

It all started with Edison’s invention of electric bulbs, which have changed how human beings went on from being afraid of the dark to being semi-nocturnal. In today’s world of cutthroat competition, people hardly have time for rest and sleep. However, even modern research shows that proper sleep is absolutely essential for us to function properly.

It is nice to see that people are making a ‘U’ turn. Vegan food is a craze among young females nowadays. The modern generation has made put yoga into one of the major physical exercises. Meditation is also gaining popularity with every passing day.

Nasal Hygiene: Passage to a Healthy Lifestyle

The nose is one of the vanguards of the defense system in our body as it acts as an effective filter. It filters about 15,000 liters of air and tries to keep out the harmful substances whose list includes dust, smoke, pollution of other kinds, allergens, and pathogens that attempt to enter your body through the gateway of the nasal pathway. Proper nasal hygiene is thus imperative to protect your body from diseases. So, here’s a bit of do's and don’ts for you to maintain your nasal hygiene. 

Keep a Clean Environment

A healthy environment goes a long way to preserve your health and nasal hygiene. It is especially true when it comes to the condition of respiratory organs. Here are a couple of tips to diminish the threats in your environment:

-          Avoid usage of carpets in your residence

-          Prevent accumulation of dust in your home

-          Clean your dwelling routinely

-          Abstain from smoking or even being a passive smoker

-          Keep an eye on the humidity level and try to maintain it at optimum (around 55%) 

Use Neti Pot Religiously 

Neti Pot also known as nasal integration, bestowed on us by our learned ancestors in the form of a practice mentioned in Ayurveda would be handy to keep your nasal passage in pristine condition. A clear nasal passage prevents a plethora of pathogens and respiratory diseases including the dreaded coronavirus. This saline nasal spray has benefits aplenty that includes alleviation of sinus headaches, reduction of snoring, and even improvement of smell and taste senses. 

Ayurveda 101

 

Name 

The word Ayurveda is a compound word. Ayurveda comprises of two words Ayush and Veda. The word Ayush means life, whereas Veda means Knowledge.

Ayurveda is a part of Atharvaveda. Atharvaveda once again comprises of two words—atharvāṇas and Veda. Atharvanas means procedures for everyday life. Thus, Atharvaveda means the knowledge of procedures for everyday life. 

Myth

The mythical origins of Ayurveda reveal that originally Vedic knowledge was transferred from the Gods to the sages (they were also the early physicians). In fact, according to Sushruta (the original composer of Sushruta Samhita), Dhanvantari (the physician of the Gods) was born as an avatar in the form of the king of Varanasi. He originally taught medicine (Ayurveda) to Sushruta and his fellow physicians. 

Origin 

As we have mentioned earlier that Ayurveda is recognized as Upveda (regarded as supplementary to Vedas); thus, it originated in the Vedic era. A rough estimation of that period would be around 5000 years ago. Though it is widely accepted that Ayurveda is a part of Atharvaveda; however, even Rigveda (the earliest Veda) also mentions various diseases, symptoms, medicinal plants, and cures. We have to keep in mind that Veda's were created even prior to scriptures came into existence. In fact, most of it was passed from one generation to the next via oral traditions.

Apparently, Ayurveda or as a matter of fact, all Vedas appear to be a cross between practical know-how and religious literature. From our modern point of view, it might sound a bit strange, but we have to keep the perspective of the primitive people, from the earliest of human civilizations. Even in the modern era, we are concerned about our health and still fear death. So, these ancient people started recording available resources and solutions. People generally pray when they feel helpless; thus, the religious portions were added. Coincidentally, we still have some tribes who still follow the ways of their ancestors. It can be noted that people following these indigenous ways know a lot about medicinal plants that city dwellers like us are ignorant of. It can also be noted that they too mostly remember these life-saving properties of medicinal plants. This trait is even common among other mammals, such as elephants and monkeys, who also use some medicinal herbs, in their own ways. Guess, the instinct to survive is strong in all living beings.

Branches

There are mainly two branches of Ayurveda; they originate from Charaka Samhita (Charaka's Compendium) and Sushruta Samhita. According to the ancient literature, Charaka Samhita was propagated and popularized by Atreya (a descendant of Atri, a great Hindu sage), and Sushruta Samhita was propagated by Dhanvantari and his disciple Sushruta. The main distinction between the two schools of thought is that while Charaka Samhita focuses on medicines and immunity, Sushruta Samhita mainly consists of surgical procedures and techniques. Thus, both schools of thought actually complement each other.

Many of the earliest followers of these practices went on to create their own treaties. Bhela Samhita created by the disciple Bhela of Charaka Samhita is acknowledged as authentic. However, some other treatises, like Harita Samhita, are not beyond doubt.

Peak

Ayurveda flourished through the middle ages (between 1200-1500 AD). It reached its zenith during the Gupta empire in India; there were even hospitals with proper equipment for the Ayurvedic treatment of patients during this period. Ayurveda was translated into multiple languages like Chinese, Persian, and Arabic, between the 5th to 8th centuries. 

Decline 

The Brahmanical (priestly) tradition in the Indian subcontinent of transferring knowledge to a selected few based on caste and creed seriously hampered Ayurveda's chances to reach out to the masses. Foreign invasions in India was also one of the reasons that a lot of important Ayurvedic treaties were forever lost. Ayurveda further stagnated during the British rule in India. The British naturally preferred their version i.e. allopathy (the conventional medical practice) over Ayurveda; hence, it was mostly ignored by them. 

Modern Era

Over the years, Ayurveda has evolved. It is once again becoming popular in the Indian subcontinent. The Indian government is promoting it in India. Patanjali by Baba Ramdev also deserves credit to make Ayurveda and yoga relevant and popular among Indians. More than 75% of the population in Nepal is dependent on Ayurveda for their well-being. Since 1980, Ayurveda is undergoing a revival in Sri Lanka. Currently, there are about 20,000 registered Ayurvedic physicians in Sri Lanka. Nowadays, Ayurvedic physicians also use modern equipment, like the stethoscope, to check their patients.

Apart from the Indian subcontinent, Ayurveda has also gained popularity all over the world, courtesy of its association with yoga, which is the new craze among millennials and subsequent generations of women. 

In the evermore conscious generations, who are wary of side-effects of allopathy treatment, Ayurveda is bound to find its place, mostly as a complementary system to modern medical practices.

Dosha 101

According to Ayurveda, our body is made up of the same elements that constitute this planet i.e., Air, Fire, Space, and Water. Doshas are "health types" formed of two of the abovementioned constituents. Our bodies, health, and to an extent, even our behavior is governed by the balance among these doshas. Now, that we know a bit about their importance, let's familiarize ourselves a bit better with doshas. 

Vata Dosha

Comprising of air and space as elements, Vata dosha governs our movement and further regulates our mental balance and well-being. This dosha is associated with breathing, the functioning of the heart, and muscle contraction. Imbalance of this dosha would result in anxiety, digestive problems, and fear.

To sync this dosha, you can practice meditation and be more cognizant of your sleep and wake-up time.

Pitta Dosha

Comprising of fire and water as elements, Pitta dosha governs our endocrine, metabolic, and digestive systems. This dosha is associated with metabolic processes. Imbalance of this dosha would result in skin irritation and rashes, anger, burnout, and overexertion. 

To sync this dosha, you should refrain from junk and spicy foods; instead, make a conscious effort to opt for healthy and organic foods, like grains and coconut water.

 

Kapha Dosha

Comprising of earth and water as elements, Kapha dosha governs our immune system and shoulders our nourishment needs. Imbalance of this dosha would result in sluggishness, weight gain, and jealousness. 

To sync this dosha, avoid carbohydrate enriched and oily food items; instead, make a conscious effort to opt for fresh fruits and veggies (preferably with a bitter taste).