Among the many medical systems, Indian Vedic teaching has become one of the most popular in the last decade. We are already used to the word "Ayurveda." What it is? Can each person follow the principles of this system in order to live a long life?
Historical reference
The main element of well-being in this science is the unity and balance of the body, organs and soul. Originating more than 1000 years ago, the doctrine significantly influenced the development of not only Eastern, but also European medicine. From ancient times, healing herbs and spices were brought from India to the countries of the Mediterranean and Central Asia, to China and Southern Siberia. We are now happy to use musk and sandalwood, cinnamon and aloe.
Gradually gaining popularity in the world, by the middle of the 20th century, Indian Ayurvedic medicine began to be studied and used in the West. Ayurveda Center in Israel, for example, Ridman College, in the United States operates the National Institute of Ayurveda Medicine. Russia met and is actively studying the basic principles and procedures of Indian medicine only from the end of the 20th century. Today, Ayurveda in Moscow is almost as popular and in demand as in the whole world.
The basic techniques of oriental medicine are closely included in the practice of doctors who profess a scientific approach to healing patients. These are therapeutic diets, baths with dousing, and diagnostics by pulse and respiration. About three hundred and fifty thousand registered doctors of the planet practice Ayurveda.
From general recommendations to individual treatment
Indian medicine is not only based on the exact sciences. It is based on the philosophy of Sankhya, astrology and biocosmorhythmology, while also using knowledge from the field of naturopathy (natural methods of treating diseases).
According to this teaching, astrology describes the relationship of the micro- and macrocosm (man and the environment), gives an idea of ​​how cosmic bodies affect our lives. Naturopathy is known for offering to replace chemical drugs with natural food, healing plants and minerals. The main thing is an individual approach to each person. Experts say that by objectively evaluating the age, gender, physique, place of residence and biorhythms of a person, it is possible to correct the imbalance with the help of herbs and spices. One of the canons of Ayurveda says: "Everything that surrounds us is a medicine, you only need to recognize it and use it correctly."
Ayurveda doctor
A person with all his chronic diseases is a system with impaired functioning of many organs. So says Ayurveda. Treatment should be carried out by only one doctor who will thoroughly study the problem and see ways to help the patient. A physician using the principles of Ayurveda should be a specialist in all fields and be able to help all patients without exception, regardless of whether he is an old man or a child.
And one more important point. Oriental medicine suggests that the patient must go the main part of the path to healing himself, strictly following the doctor’s instructions. Only in this case a complete recovery is possible.
For a long time, the patient’s examination has been carried out according to the “five mirrors” method - pulse, diagnosis according to the condition of the tongue and skin, irido- and auriculodiagnostics. This allows not only to understand the clinical picture, but also to identify the patient's propensity for certain complications.
Elemental Struggle
We all consist of the elements of the five elements: air, water, earth, fire and space. Their balance, balance ("Prakriti") corresponds to ideal health, says Ayurveda. What it is? The desire of healers to direct a person in the direction of harmonization of soul and body. For ease of understanding, think about European psychotypes - slow phlegmatic, fiery choleric, almost balanced melancholy and curious sanguine. It is almost impossible to find a person in whom all (or at least three psycho-types) are not represented. But highlighting the dominant is a very simple task.
This is also the case in Ayurveda. In perfect condition, we must live in harmony of all elements. But from birth, one prevails.
Dosha
This concept describes not only the type of physique, but also the speed of the processes occurring in a person: metabolism during digestion, thinking, psychological mobility and susceptibility to physical activity, temperament, etc.
Ayurveda has three types of doshas. Vata is air, Pitta is fire and water, and Kapha is water, earth and space. As long as all doshas are in balance, we are healthy and active. But the constant variability of external conditions and, accordingly, internal stresses knock people out of equilibrium.
The goal of Ayurveda is the harmonization of the dosha and the guna (psycho-emotional state) to Prakriti.
Water sharpens a stone
And yet Ayurveda - what is it? Most experts say that this is a flexible system of protection and adjustment of the human condition. She suggests using proven algorithms for centuries anywhere and at all times. The emphasis is on the fact that it is impossible to apply known methods mechanically - they should be adapted according to the “place-time-circumstances” scheme. Only taking into account the peculiarities of climate and geography, culture and society in which the patient is located, can an effective treatment system be created.
Many drugs (or rather, almost all) act gently and gradually, activating the internal processes of self-regulation of the body. They do not cause the side effects that chemical drugs are known for. The Center for Eastern Medicine will offer a set of measures to “pull” the disease out, and not to heal it somewhere deep inside. And while Ayurvedic medicines have a rejuvenating and cleansing effect. The simplicity and accessibility of treatment methods allows you to adjust your condition even at home.
Illness is a teacher
It also seems interesting that all diseases are considered not as “last resort”, but as teachers who came to point out errors to us. To describe the disease, connecting it with the way of thinking and behavior, and to indicate to us through "friendly" diseases the deeper and more serious ailments - this is what Ayurveda is capable of. What is it and how to understand it? Modern medical scientists have already proved, for example, that a mild form of tuberculosis, which should not be expelled from your body, according to Vedic philosophy, will lead asthma away from the patient.
Remember the saying “thought is material”? This is one of the cornerstones of the doctrine under the beautiful name of Ayurveda. We already know that this system links together the universe and people (with all their thoughts and deeds that can affect the environment). A disease is considered as something that can stop and change the situation, prevent the consequences of what a person could do, being healthy. This is exactly what Ayurveda thinks. Treatment allows us to extinguish the energy that we accumulate for the realization of evil, destructive intentions. The main thing is to learn that we are not talking about meaningful and planned evil. Envy, criticism of others, self-pity - all these are also unkind and harmful seeds for the universe. And with the help of diseases, we switch and learn to perceive reality in a different way.
Ojas
Eastern medicine calls this beautiful word life energy, on which the status of a person depends. And note: intellectual, spiritual, and even social. According to adherents of Ayurveda, each of us does not use our potential even by 5%. And it’s not so important whether you live in improper conditions or yourself are fascinated by momentary desires (to earn more, gain power, fly up the career ladder, etc.) - nature with an enviable constancy pushes a person, showing him ways of self-realization, but we rarely hear these hints ...
So Ojas is decreasing. And along with this, chronic diseases appear and old age is approaching. In addition, the amount of ojas determines our resistance to all kinds of destructive factors. Among other phenomena that reduce vital energy can be called hard physical labor, prolonged fasting, alcohol and drugs, disturbing thoughts, lack of sleep, dry food, etc. All this leads to the so-called mental and physical indigestion, resulting in all kinds of toxins and toxins. (physical and mental). Literally everything annoys a person: noise, light, laughter of other people ... Fear, intolerance and anxiety settle in him. And, of course, all this leads to the development of diseases.
How to accumulate Ojas
Despite the fact that Ayurveda (reviews of medical scientists only reinforce the opinions of those who have experienced the treatment methods) considers individual and integrated approaches to the health of each patient, there are many specific recipes. For example, healthy sleep and quality food are needed to increase Ojas. This purpose is served by honey, ginger, saffron, etc.
Each person, born with a small supply of ojas, is able to accumulate it throughout life. But the main skill for an adherent of any school that the center of Eastern medicine offers is the ability to redistribute and redirect vital energy. This applies to yoga, and tantra, and qigong.
The most effective way to preserve vital energy is called abstinence from too frequent sexual relationships. For an ordinary European, this is nonsense. After all, the birthplace of the famous "Kama Sutra" is India. Ayurveda does not require a complete rejection of sexual relations. Adherents are only invited to streamline their intimate life, because sex makes a person addicted, like drugs. There are even the results of a study conducted by scientists from the Netherlands, according to which the orgasm acts on the psyche almost like a dose of heroin.
Foundation of health
Eastern healers regard Ojas as the greatest gift of the Most High. To preserve and replenish vital energy, we need to make efforts: adhere to the rules of a healthy lifestyle, transform, take care of our spiritual purity, control thoughts, feelings and desires. In the Bhagavad-gita, the Indian scripture, it says: “Peace can only be reached by someone who is not bothered by a continuous stream of desires, like rivers flowing into an ever-filling, but always calm ocean. And there is no peace to those who seek to satisfy their desires. "
The experience of generations - to life
Vedic doctors say that all diseases happen to us unknowingly. We do not know how to listen to our body (and most importantly - to hear) and its needs. The ability to recognize the Universe and learn to manage it is one of the tasks of an adherent of Indian philosophy.
The most important difference between Ayurveda and European medicine is recognized as an integrated approach to the physical and spiritual well-being of a person, to his worldview and lifestyle. Any of us, without exception, using the knowledge gained, will be able to achieve the desired result. You just need to remember that the more efforts are made, the brighter will be the achievement of the goal. There is no doubt that there will really be a result, because after 5000 years people will not begin to practice a completely useless system.