Ayurveda is translated from Indian as "the science of life". Contrary to popular belief, the Eastern system involves not only massages, rubbing in oils and the use of medicinal herbs. Ayurveda is a whole complex of preventive and therapeutic methods, the purpose of which is to ensure the harmony of the soul and body of a person.

Story

Ancient science originated in India more than 3.5 thousand years ago. It is believed that ancient Indian gods gave sacred knowledge to people, which is partly why Ayurveda was considered as a national teaching outside the country for a long time and was not particularly popular. Only with the flourishing of the book business did she begin to have supporters around the world.
In 1985, WHO recognized the ancient system as a truly effective method of alternative healing. In Russia, according to the order of the Ministry of Health, Ayurveda is included in the list of healing methods that can be officially used in medical practice. What explains such trust in Eastern doctors?

Philosophy

Ayurveda considers man as a combination of several elements: earth, water, air, fire and ether. Grouped together, these elements form the tissues and organs, as well as the basic life forces (doshas) that control all bodily functions. As long as the doshas work in harmony with each other, a person remains healthy, as soon as the balance is disturbed, disease occurs. That is why the essence of any treatment is to restore the delicate balance between the controlling substances.

The original nature of a person - prakriti - also depends on the ratio of doshas in the body. These are the mental and somatic characteristics of the patient, which are given to him from birth and do not change throughout his life. By knowing one's prakriti and following specific lifestyle recommendations, a person can stay healthy and happy. Diagnostics, determining the innate constitution of the patient, establish his tendency to various diseases.

In total, there are 3 main types of prakriti: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

cotton wool
Symbolizes movement. A person of this type is thin, impulsive, sociable. He quickly learns information, has a rich imagination and a sharp mind. At the same time, he is unstable, irritable, easily excitable. Vata people eat poorly, organize their schedule irrationally, and have little rest. You can recognize them by thin dry skin, cold hands, brittle nails with a pale plate.

Frequent health problems: weight loss, insomnia, nervous disorders, digestive disorders.

pitta

People ruled by the element of fire. They are often red-haired, with white skin covered in freckles. They have an average build. Very balanced, purposeful, pedantic. It is important for them to live according to the schedule and always keep the situation under control. The Pitt man usually makes a good career. He is bold, sympathetic, quick-tempered, but not vindictive. Likes to eat well. Doctors distinguish such patients by a strong pulse that is easily palpable. Pitta's nails are flexible with a reddish plate.

Frequent diseases: heat strokes, digestive ulcers, gastritis, liver pathology.

kapha

Kapha people have a slow metabolism. They, as a rule, have a broad-boned physique, developed muscles, but smooth, unhurried movements. Kaphas like to think, are not prone to impulsive actions. They are patient, balanced, peaceful, faithful. They eat a lot, but are not physically active, so they often suffer from excess weight. The pulse in such patients may be slightly slow, nails - shiny, healthy, with a white plate.

Frequent health problems: obesity, cardiovascular and ENT diseases.

Any treatment program in Ayurveda is selected taking into account prakriti.

Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases

To identify the disease, in addition to the traditional examination, Ayurvedic healers use rather non-standard methods, for example, sniffing the patient or pulse diagnosis. Once the problem becomes apparent, treatment begins.

As in traditional medicine, therapy can be symptomatic (Shamana) or etiological (i.e. removing the cause of the disease, Shodhana). Treatment packages include:

• aromatherapy;
• color and music therapy;
• taste therapy;
• apitherapy (treatment with bee stings);
• breathing exercises;
• spiritual practices (yoga, meditation);
• phytopreparations.

More than 700 plants, minerals and substances of animal origin are used to prepare medicines in Ayurveda. Neem, Tulasi, Triphala, Boswellia trees are especially often included in the recipe. Toxic metals are subjected to special treatment before mixing. Preparations are made in the form of powders, pills, tablets, syrups and solutions.

Diet plays an important role in treatment. It is believed that all 6 basic tastes should be present in the human diet:

• sour,
• salty,
• sweet,
• spicy,
• bitter,
• astringent.

According to Indian doctors, each of the taste sensations has a certain effect on the body. For example, sweet stimulates the formation of blood cells, and sour improves digestion. Only a full palette of flavors can ensure the normal functioning of the whole organism as a whole.

Cooking is allowed only from fresh products. At the same time, it is important to observe the principle of their compatibility. So, in one dish should not be present at the same time proteins and fats. Fruit should be eaten separately from starchy vegetables. Milk should not be combined with other products containing proteins.

Twice a year, for preventive purposes, doctors prescribe cleansing procedures for their patients - panchakarma.
The course of therapy usually includes massage, herbal enemas, bloodletting, washing the sinuses.

But perhaps the main thing in Ayurveda is its spiritual component. Adherents of this technique are convinced that the physical health of a person directly depends on the state of his soul. If the patient is satisfied with himself, loves the world, knows how to forgive insults and get rid of irritation, then he is not afraid of any ailments.

Ayurveda is translated from Sanskrit as "the science of life" and incorporates ancient Indian knowledge (Veda). This Veda forms the basis of Indian medicine, which is still considered the most ancient therapeutic and prophylactic tradition.

Unlike other Vedas, there are no invocations to God or descriptions of ritual worship. Ayurveda considers a person in a complex way - as a holistic organism, inseparable from the rest of nature. Harmony, balance and interaction are the foundations of the philosophy of Ayurveda.

Body constitution according to Ayurveda

According to Ayurveda, everything that exists in the universe (including man and what he eats) consists of five primary elements. The most important are Space and Air. How long can we hold our breath? For a minute, maximum - two. But without water, a person can withstand two or three days. The next element in this ranking is Fire, which, according to Ayurveda, is responsible for digestion and metabolism. The last element is Earth, which is food. You can go without food for almost a month.

Are you naturally thin or do you tend to be overweight? The figure depends on the time at which you were born, and more specifically on which dosha (bioenergy) dominated in nature at that moment.

Ayurveda distinguishes seven so-called body constitutions (individual types of body structure): three main, “pure” types - vata, pita and kapha, and four mixed ones. The type of constitution is expressed by certain characteristic features.

people with dominant vata dosha usually thin, even bony, sometimes all their lives they try to gain weight to no avail. Such people hyperactive often suffer from insomnia.

They must avoid raw food, excess movement, frequent travel and ... talkativeness. In the daily diet of Vata people, fatty and warm foods, dairy products and sweet fruits should be present. Such food brings the Vata people, who are dominated by the element of Air, back to earth.

People with advantage dosha pita (the element of Fire dominates) leadership qualities are pronounced. They are active, attractive, intelligent, perfect and impetuous.

They are contraindicated in spicy, fatty foods and tonic drinks such as coffee or black tea. Pita should be especially avoided anger , anger and irritability, because it knocks her off balance.

In turn, people with dominant kapha dosha (ruling elements - Earth and Water) are always happy, lazy, smile a lot and do everything slowly. Often people of this type suffer from obesity and inactivity.

Based on your personality type, an Ayurvedic specialist will select the appropriate diet for you.

Ayurvedic nutrition

The Ayurvedic diet is based on several general principles.

Firstly, it is important to achieve balance in the body by applying the principle of opposites. If you are very active, your thoughts easily jump from topic to topic, do not eat spicy stimulating foods and do not drink tonic drinks.

Secondly, according to Ayurvedic knowledge, only freshly prepared food, as little as possible subjected to heat treatment, is healthy. No soups for the whole week - only fresh food contains a lot of vital energy, which is necessary for proper functioning, and contains the necessary amount of protein or vitamins .

Carefully monitor the content of vitamins and minerals in the diet, show more patience and interest in the inspiring cooking process. Remember that food thawed and cooked in a microwave oven loses all possible energy values ​​\u200b\u200bfor the body.

It is important to keep in mind that there is a time for each meal: Ayurvedic breakfast is eaten before 8.30, lunch between 12:00 and 13.30, and dinner until 19:00.

Ayurveda distinguishes three types of food that add or take energy away from us. Eat more vegetables, fruits and grains (including the most important wheat and rice for Ayurveda), because this light food energizing and clearing the mind. Do not abuse coffee, sweets and hot spices, because although they give a short-term “energy boost”, they eventually lead to the fact that you feel tired ahead of time. Avoid heavy foods because the body will use a lot of energy to digest them.

To heavy food includes meat, mushrooms, eggs, canned food, deep-frozen foods, onions and garlic. In addition, according to Ayurveda, onions and garlic are medicines, and it would never occur to anyone to eat medicines every day.

indigestible food can be afforded by people who engage in physical labor and burn additional energy faster. All other lovers of fatty chops and mushroom puree soups can bring themselves to bouts of uncontrolled aggression, and as a result, depression.

Of course, in the rather cool climate of central Russia, it is not recommended to eat only vegetables, fruits and bread all the time. Once or twice a week, treat yourself to a savory dish or homemade sweets.

Ayurvedic methods

Ayurvedic medicine mainly uses the power of spices to treat and prevent various diseases. For example, ginger is able to warm us in winter and helps with joint pain, coriander tones better than coffee and relieves hangovers, and roasted fennel refreshes the mouth after eating.

Turmeric is added to almost all Indian dishes because it purifies the blood, increases stamina, prevents cancer, aids digestion, and is very good for the skin.

Ayurveda - the science of life / shutterstock.com

For the female body, an extract from the roots of asparagus is very useful - it facilitates the course of pregnancy, balancing the balance of vata and helping blood circulation in the reproductive organs.

Ayurveda uses a huge number of methods that restore the natural balance in the body and treat various diseases. In addition to diet and spices, the main tools of Ayurveda that allow you to maintain health and youth are yoga, breathing exercises, meditation and Ayurvedic massage.. There are also special beauty secrets - for example, how to make the skin perfectly clean and smooth.

How to eat according to Ayurveda

Ayurveda recommends drinking plenty of water, but only before meals or between meals, and using cosmetics based on natural ingredients. It is also useful to do regular cleaning of the body. It is the diet that is unusual for your dosha type and the toxins absorbed from the wrong food that are responsible for the poor condition of the skin.

We are imperfect, and in the fast pace of modern life we ​​often sin against our own nature, smoke, abuse alcohol, dine at fast food restaurants, drink coffee and cola ...

There is an Ayurvedic way to minimize the harm of an unhealthy lifestyle.

If for six days a week you clog your body, forget to drink water and eat unhealthy food, then on the seventh arrange yourself a cleansing. Eat only light foods, vegetables and fruits, or even go on a hunger strike.

However, there are exceptions: pita people should not fast because it will give them severe headaches.

If you drank a lot of alcohol the day before and this led to an upset gastrointestinal tract, eat more foods that cause alkaline reactions: meaty vegetables, salad. Do you smoke cigarettes? Introduce fruits that have cleansing properties, such as melon or mango, into your daily diet, and try to quit smoking .

It is important that the food is prepared with love, and the meal is measured. While eating, do not watch TV, do not read newspapers, do not look at the blog or mail. Also, don't overeat! According to Ayurveda, after eating, the stomach should be one-third filled with food, one-third with water, and one-third left empty.

Remember that you are not only what you eat, but also what you feel and think. Since we are all part of nature and the entire universe, try to stay in harmony with yourself and with the world around you.

Svetlana POLIKARPOVA

What is Ayurveda and how does it differ from modern medicine? When was she born? What is its underlying idea? What are the main principles, sections, concepts and methods? You will learn about all this by reading this material.

“A person striving for a long life, which is the means to achieve dharma (duty), artha (benefit) and sukha (joy), should turn to the teachings of Ayurveda with the greatest faith.”

Srimad Wagbhata

Ayurveda is a unique synthesis of science and the Samkhya philosophical system. This is medicine that belongs to all mankind, regardless of race and religion. It has been and is practiced by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.

Ayurveda is mentioned in the Vedas (as part of Vedic knowledge), Mahabharata, Upanishads, Puranas, Yoga Shastras and Tantras.

Ayurveda also describes seven tissue elements (dhatus) that form all the structures of the body. These are rasa (liquid), rakta (blood), meda (fatty), ashti (bone tissues), masma (muscles), majja (yellow and red brain tissues), shukra (reproductive tissue). You can read more about the seven elements of fabrics in the article.

Three gunas

Sattva, rajas and tamas are the three gunas, which are the three energies (components) of the mind.

Sattva is the guna of goodness (also beauty and kindness).

Rajas is the guna of passion (also vigor and aggression).

Tamas is the guna of ignorance (also laziness, sadness and depression).

All three gunas are present in every person, but at any given moment, as a rule, only one quality prevails. You can read more about these three energies in the article.

Agni

Agni is a biological fire that governs human metabolism. In other words, the digestive abilities are related to the power of agni. The balance of the latter is vital for the proper functioning of the body. Ayurveda teaches that there are thirteen types of agni, the most important of which is jatharagni. You can read more about the types of biological fire in the article.

Ayurveda Methods

Ayurveda includes eight diagnostic methods according to eight types of data (Ashtavidya pariksha), on the basis of which the cause of the disease is determined. These are nadi pariksha (pulse), jihva pariksha (tongue), drik pariksha (eyes), mutra pariksha (urine), mala pariksha (stool), shabda pariksha (voice and other noises), sparsha pariksha (palpation), akriti pariksha (general impression). Traditional methods of treatment include Marma therapy (point impact), Panchakarma, consisting of a large number of procedures and various therapies, Ayurvedic massage, natural medicine treatment, yoga classes, individual diet and meditation.

Ayurveda originated in India over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda - "Science of life", translated from Sanskrit. In ancient India, part of everyday existence was following the laws of Ayurveda.

In this country, they still keep the knowledge accumulated by the healers of the past and, with their help, help the modern person fight what is the price for progress - stress, constant fatigue, poor health.

Ayurveda is more than a science, it is the art of achieving harmony with oneself and the world around, without disturbing the natural balance of the body, mind and soul.

It is recognized by the World Health Organization as a very effective system of alternative medicine.

Approximately the first records of Ayurveda were made more than two thousand years ago in India. Since ancient times, doctors from all over the world came to India to study Ayurveda.

The Chinese, Tibetans, Afghans, Persians, Egyptians, Greeks and Italians mastered this ancient medical system and then put it into practice in their countries.

Pharmaceutical firms, strictly following the ancient recipes, produce almost all the medicines of classical Ayurveda, even preserving their ancient names.

As a perfect system of medicine, Ayurveda relieves humanity of many unnecessary problems and diseases, because the goal of Ayurveda is to achieve a healthy state of body, mind and spirit.

For this, it is necessary to learn how to live, following the principle of the integrity of life, because everything in the Universe is interconnected and interdependent.

Ayurveda is the art of a healthy lifestyle, in which all the harmful influences of the external environment are powerless in front of impeccable health.

Knowledge of philosophy, science and religion in the Vedic scriptures are considered as a single knowledge of happiness, health and human improvement. Philosophy is the love of truth. Science is the discovery of truth through experiment. Religion is the direct experience of truth and its application in everyday life.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is still very popular today. At present, in India alone, what is Ayurveda is being studied in more than one hundred colleges. Ayurveda is also gaining popularity in other countries.

The number of people wishing to make a tour to India to undergo Ayurveda procedures is constantly growing. Ayurveda treats the whole body as a whole, restores the disturbed balance between its parts, removing the very cause of the disease.

Often, Ayurvedic therapy cures patients who are powerless to help Western medicine. The secret of such success is that vaidyas (Ayurvedic doctors) consider the body as a whole and treat not a disease, but a person, taking into account his age, constitution and many other factors.

The main thing is disease prevention, which includes not only diet, gymnastics, massages and other procedures, but also lifestyle and recommendations for behavior in society. All this helps to maintain balance and prevents the appearance and development of diseases.

Ayurveda as a science is a systematized knowledge, it is not based on constantly changing scientific research, but on the wisdom of the Vedic scriptures and contains universal principles applicable in everyday life.

Ayurveda considers the close relationship of micro- and macrocosmos, proceeds from the idea that the human body is a cast of the cosmos (universe). According to the doctrine of tridosha, the human body (cells, tissues and organs) is based on five primary elements (ether, air, fire, water, earth), which make up the main components of life - vata, pitta and kapha and their subtle foundations - prana, tejas and ojas..

These vital energies determine the outer form of the living being, govern the physical and mental functions of the organism and maintain its unity. In relation to people, this means that our physical and mental state is determined by the composition and interaction of these subtle material energies.

The ratio of doshas can change due to the influence of any factor: food consumed, climate, weather, social and personal relationships, thoughts, and much more. These factors either increase or decrease the content of one, two, three doshas in the body (to one degree or another). Differences in appearance, intelligence, character traits and biological reactions are due to the relative predominance of one or another dosha. Excessive predominance or decrease in the number of one of the doshas, ​​striving to dominate one over the other, leads to internal disorders of the body and the insufficiency of certain functions in it.

Therapy

In Ayurveda, only natural products are used and no chemically synthesized preparations are used, and food is in many ways equated to medicine.

Unlike Western medicine, which uses powerful drugs that have an immediate effect but destroy living cells and the immune system, Ayurvedic therapy works slowly but surely, has no side effects and stimulates the immune system.

Health, according to Ayurveda, is a living harmony between the environment, body and mind of a person. In Ayurveda, there are many different methods of treatment for a wide variety of diseases. This process may be slow, but the results are not long in coming.

The peculiarity of Ayurveda is that it interprets a person as a whole, the unity of body, mind and spirit. Ayurveda is closely related to the traditional practices of India, in particular yoga. Medicines or medical procedures are selected individually.

In Ayurvedic practice, only natural, natural remedies are used: ghee (clarified butter), medicinal plants (more than 3000!), spices, minerals, metals, so these medicines do not have harmful side effects.

Widely used methods such as various types of massage (with oil, powdered herbs), steam room. Food, in many ways, equates to medicine.

Ayurveda centers in India

It is not so easy for a modern inhabitant of the Western world to become a true adept of Ayurveda. You need to devote your life to this and give all your free time, and in non-free time, you still follow the main commandments, meditate, do not lose heart, eat right and breathe clean air.

Therefore, there are few true adherents of Ayurveda in the modern Western world. However, those who have heard about this thing and would like to rejuvenate and improve their health with its help are becoming more and more.

Several Ayurvedic procedures apart from spiritual pursuits cannot restore health to the body.

However, practice shows that even such a half-measure remarkably heals and rejuvenates the body. After a course of procedures, you can lose weight, regain flexibility and calmness, and start smiling blissfully.

In the state of Kerala, the traditions of ancient medicine have been preserved in the most complete form, so the centers and salons of Ayurveda located in Kerala have become the most popular.

The local climate and vegetation create ideal conditions for the application of these treatments. Tourists can feel the beneficial effects of Ayurveda not only in special medical centers, but also without leaving the chosen hotel.

There are generally recognized upscale centers in other parts of India. This can be done for a lot of money in palace hotels overlooking the Taj Mahal or the snowy Himalayas.

These are Amarvilas hotels in Agra, Rajvilas in Jaipur, Wildflower Hall in Mashobra, The Ananda Resort in Rishikesh.

For more modest money, you can practice Ayurveda on the coast of Goa. Here a group of Ayurvedicists can be found in many hotels.

If not in any, then in the next one. The inhabitants of Goa know a great way to start the day - early in the morning to meditate at the foam of the surf and do yoga.

Ayurvedic resorts in India are mainly categorized as 4* and 5*. In addition to treatment for all major programs, they offer vacationers comfortable accommodation with full board, excursions, entertainment and a variety of services, including transfer to the hotel, translation services when consulting a doctor, etc.

Also, there are various types of Ayurvedic resorts - with more stringent conditions for observing the rules of Ayurveda, aimed strictly at treatment and complete cleansing of the body, and mild, allowing you to combine healing and relaxation. Everyone will be able to choose for themselves the necessary option.

Ayurvedic programs

The names of Ayurvedic procedures sound very mysterious - bindi, kundalini, shirodhara. The names of flowers and herbs used by healers also sound strange. But these unheard of names turn into essences of sweet orange, bergamot, cloves, lavender or oak bark.

They are part of masks and ointments, smoke in aromatic lamps, rise with steam, fill the air with aroma. And the procedures most often turn into massages, steaming and wrapping.

One of the best Ayurvedic programs for a modern person is Panchakarma, or cleansing the body of toxins and slags accumulated in it.

To achieve a result, you need to take at least a three-week course, and preferably during the monsoon season, when the humid heat greatly enhances the effect.

Specialists of Indian Ayurveda centers have also developed the programs "Antistress", "Rejuvenation", "Longevity", "Weight Loss" and others, lasting from 2 to 4 weeks.

Oil infused with herbs restores the bioenergetic balance of the body and soul, leads to a relaxed state.

Massages and steam baths are done with it. Essential aromatic oils also have a strong effect. When Ayurveda is combined with aromatherapy, Aromaveda is obtained.

Many procedures are based on that part of Ayurveda, which is called the science of Marma. It is believed that there are 107 Marma points on our body, through which the vital force prana enters the body.

These points are located throughout the body, and it is on them that the masters of Ayurveda act during acupressure.

And Prana circulates through the channels. To clear these channels, healers use the same herbal mixtures, steam and massage. So they relieve migraines, relieve stress and improve well-being.

One of the main Ayurvedic procedures is called shirodhara.

It is carried out as follows: in the middle of the forehead, in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe "third eye", warm sesame oil is poured in a thin stream. As a result, the mind is cleared, anxiety disappears, headaches disappear.

Ayurvedic massage is usually done by two masters, four hands, using fragrant oil infused with herbs.

During the massage, Marma points are stimulated, the dosha balance is restored, the body is harmonized, cleansed and rejuvenated.

Pindashveda massage with warm oils and herbal extracts saves from stress and overload, destroys cellulite and removes toxins, helps with arthritis, cleanses the body, improves metabolism and redistributes energy.

A facial massage with warm aromatic oil is called bindi.

A traditional blend of Himalayan herbs is used to detoxify the body.

It is used for skin polishing, wrapping and deep massage. All this effectively cleanses and tones the body.

There are many Ayurvedic procedures aimed at the treatment of specific diseases.

They relieve dry mouth, impotence or paralysis of the facial nerve, give flexibility to the body, sharpness to the mind, and liveliness to the soul.

For those who want to achieve complete health and happiness, Ayurveda suggests combining healing with self-improvement, moving to a higher and higher level over time.

There are five levels in total, and the treatment of bodily ailments is dealt with at the very first, in order to find true happiness by the last.

first level

- treatment of bodily disease. It happens with the help of proper nutrition, Ayurvedic medicines and body cleansing.

in second level

Prevention of physical and mental illnesses. It includes adherence to the daily regimen, the use of anti-aging products, hatha yoga exercises, pranayama breathing exercises, achieving cleanliness of the body.

third level

Develop a positive attitude towards life and happy relationships with others. This is work on your character. The doctor acts as a mentor to the patient

fourth level

Achieving the right attitude towards the highest goal of human life. This is work on your beliefs and views, reading mantras, developing asceticism under the guidance of a spiritual mentor.

fifth level

Developing a correct understanding of spiritual reality. Ancient knowledge says that real happiness can be achieved if you selflessly engage in spiritual practice. At this level of treatment, a person achieves maximum health and happiness.

Ayurveda indicates the direction, helps to take the first steps towards healing, but the patient must go through the main path himself, following strictly the doctor's instructions.

Popular types of massage in Ayurveda

Abyanga

This is a full body massage. Warm oil is prepared in advance with extracts of various herbs. This type of massage helps to improve blood circulation and flexibility of the joints, it also helps to strengthen and tone not only the muscles, but also the joints themselves. This type of massage is also used to cleanse the body and remove toxins that accumulate deep in the tissues.

Garshan massage

It is believed that this type of massage helps with the decomposition of fat by improving blood and lymph circulation. It also helps in cleansing the skin and removing dead cells, allowing the massage oils to work to their full potential and increase skin elasticity.

Sirodhara

In this type of massage, oil is poured rhythmically onto the forehead, which has a relaxing effect and lowers the level of depression, allowing you to control it yourself.

Nhavarakizhi

In this type of massage, the body is wrapped in a poultice of a medicinal mixture in order to achieve increased sweating. In addition to massage, Ayurvedacharyas (Ayurvedic doctors) practice diets and medicines in accordance with the needs of patients.

One of the ancient literary sources, Charaka Samhita, where texts about Ayurveda are collected, says: “Ayurveda is the knowledge of suitable and inappropriate, favorable and unfavorable conditions of life, about factors that promote and hinder longevity, as well as about what measure should be taken. approach life in general.

At the heart of Ayurveda lies the principle of harmony and interconnection between Man and Nature. It is on this that all Ayurvedic healing methods are built. The emphasis in Ayurveda is on maintaining health and preventing diseases using natural remedies.

Ayurvedic therapy includes various rejuvenating and restorative procedures that can be carried out independently or in specialized centers. Traditionally, in the practice of Ayurveda, such means as are widely used:

Various foot and hand massages using therapeutic herbal oils or powders, as well as self-massage;

herbalism;

aromatherapy;

Warming up the body (ingestion of spicy herbs, bath, herbal wraps, rubbing warm oils into the skin);

Color and sound therapy

Treatment with stones and metals

All these procedures, combined with a special Ayurvedic diet and proper lifestyle, prevent the aging process, promoting longevity and strengthening the immune system.

But since Ayurveda is a science of life, it is not limited to a set of medical and cosmetic procedures, but covers all areas of human life. Therefore, great importance in the practice of Ayurveda is given to such criteria of a healthy lifestyle as:

proper nutrition,

Daily regime,

Meditation,

Yogic exercises

hardening.

Ayurveda teaches that man is a microcosm, the Universe. Man is a child of the cosmic forces of the external environment, the macrocosm. His individual existence is inseparable from the general cosmic manifestation. In a holistic sense, Ayurveda's views of health and "disease" take into account the inherent human connection between individual and cosmic spirit, individual and cosmic consciousness, energy and matter.

According to the teachings of Ayurveda, four biological and spiritual aspirations are inherent in man: religious, financial prosperity, reproduction and freedom. Good health is necessary to fulfill these requests.

Ayurveda helps the healthy to maintain health, and the sick to restore it. This is the medical-metaphysical science of healing life, the mother of the art of healing. Practicing Ayurveda means promoting well-being, health and creative growth.

The practical knowledge of self-healing can be learned by anyone through the study of the truths of Ayurveda. It is possible to significantly increase the lifespan and get rid of suffering by properly balancing all the energies in the body. The ability of the individual to self-healing is the basic concept of Ayurvedic science.

Basic principles of Ayurveda

Ayurveda recognizes a deep connection between processes in nature and in the body, dividing them into manifested and unmanifested. Ayurveda considers a person as a combination of three components - the individual soul, or atma; the "subtle", mental or astral body (linga-sharira) and the physical body (sthula-sharira). The soul has an eternal, spiritual nature, therefore it never dies. The Bhagavad Gita, the main philosophical book of the teachings of the Vedas, states that the soul cannot be destroyed, burned or incinerated. An integral property of the soul is consciousness, and it is this that determines the physical bodies - both the linga-sharira and the sthula-sharira.

It is from the level of consciousness that the subtle body is formed - our constant companion in all incarnations. All our thoughts, desires, motivations, actions, habits make up the so-called "samskaras" - "attachments", that which in turn determines the physical body.

Thus, Ayurveda believes that the true cause of disease is in our mind, lies in the "defects" of consciousness.

Therefore, Ayurveda is a way of life and correct thinking, a harmonious existence of a person with nature.

In Ayurveda, the disease is classified into six stages of development:

Psychophysiological

Energy-informational (etheric)

Neuroendocrine (imbalance of the three doshas)

Endotoxic

Symptomatic (manifested)

Terminal (irreversible).

It is believed that the first three stages are easily curable, the fourth is curable, the fifth is difficult to treat, and the sixth is incurable.

Unfortunately, modern allopathic medicine most often begins to treat the disease only at the fifth or sixth stage, moreover, trying to eliminate the symptoms of the disease, and not its real cause.

The first stage of the disease - psychophysiological - is associated with the mind, with the problems of the "subtle" body. "Wrong", evil, aggressive thoughts can lead to illness at this stage, which manifests itself in the predominance of the lower gunas, the qualities of material nature, in the mind.

There are three modes of material nature:

sattva- guna of goodness, harmonious perception of the world, acceptance of one's destiny, patience and humility. It is sattvic, blissful thinking that gives a person protection from diseases and premature old age.

Rajas- the guna of passion, an active, active, motivating principle. Prevailing in the mind of a person, it "clouds" the mind and contributes to the manifestation of numerous vices, which are considered in Ayurveda as the roots of most diseases.

Tamas- the mode of ignorance, delusion. If a person's consciousness is immersed in ignorance, it causes a "sleep of reason", apathy, laziness, indifference, stupidity, which leads to the destruction of the personality.

The gunas are dynamic, constantly mixing and matching our thoughts. Their combination with each other creates all sorts of combinations of shades of our psyche. The imbalance of the gunas can cause great psychological stress, create problems, having a devastating effect on the psycho-emotional state of a person.

Thus, if the guna of rajas or tamas begins to predominate in our consciousness, Ayurveda considers this to be the first stage of the disease.

Ayurveda is based on Vedic philosophy, which speaks of sanatana-dharma (the basic duty of a person) as yoga, the development of one's connection with God. Various types of spiritual practices are, according to Ayurveda, the best "therapy" for the mind, allowing you to get rid of the destructive influence of rajas and tamas.

At the second stage of the disease, defects and “defects” of the mind have a devastating effect on the “subtle”, ethereal body, and the negative reaction of the psyche introduces an imbalance in our energy channels - nadis and energy centers - chakras, causing malfunctions in the organs and systems of the body.

To correct the etheric body, Ayurvedic medicine offers methods of aromatherapy, mineral therapy and pranatherapy, as well as very effective Ayurvedic massages in this case - Marma therapy and Abhyanga.

If the disease is not eliminated at the psycho-physiological and ethereal stages, then it passes to the third stage - neuroendocrine - the stage of imbalance of the three doshas. Imbalance of vata dosha causes an imbalance in the work of the centers of the brain and spinal cord, and an imbalance of pita and kapha doshas disrupts hormonal balance.

Ayurveda describes in detail the early signs of the third stage of the disease, depending on the imbalance of one or another dosha. Endocrine disorders can be detected by pulse diagnosis. In order to balance Vata, Pitta and Kapha, it is often enough to choose the right diet and lifestyle. In some cases, it is necessary to add appropriate nutritional supplements, minerals, spices, herbs to the diet. The third stage of the disease is characterized by the formation and accumulation of ama, "slags". Hormonal imbalance causes an imbalance in the work of digestive and cellular enzymes. The "slags" formed in this case enter or accumulate in the tissues. Each organ has its own excretion system, so ama usually accumulates in "weakened" organs.

Ayurveda says that our body is our teacher - if any organ becomes ill, then this indicates certain defects in our consciousness. For example, excessive pride leads to liver diseases, selfishness affects the heart, hypocrisy and inability to love unbalance the genitourinary system.

The accumulation of ama in the body causes general weakness, fatigue, irritability, drowsiness, memory impairment, plaque on the tongue, bad breath, loss of appetite, flatulence, pustular rashes on the skin, and so on.

As the disease develops, signs of intoxication increase, and the disease passes to the fourth stage. At this stage of the disease, Ayurveda applies the methods of shodhana, purification from ama. Cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract, blood, kidneys, respiratory system and skin is recommended. For this, herbs, enterosorbents and medicinal oils are used.

The fifth stage of the disease (symptomatic) is associated with the activation of the mechanisms of self-regulation of the body. At this time, the organs or tissues are trying to get rid of ama. This stage is accompanied by the appearance of specific symptoms, such as pain in the kidney area, fever, coughing or nausea. Any disease has its own individual rhythm, manifested by periods of exacerbation and remission.

Treatment of the disease at the fifth stage includes acupuncture, osteopathy, homeopathy, herbal medicine, Ayurvedic massage, including acupressure, hirudotherapy, balneotherapy, therapeutic and breathing exercises, diet therapy and others.

At the sixth stage of the disease, the protective mechanisms of the body lose their strength, and the tissues undergo irreversible changes. There is a gradual destruction and death of this body system. This is where surgical intervention is often required. Therapeutic methods can only alleviate the suffering of the patient and "tighten" the disease.