Ayurveda
Ayurveda means “life cycle” in Sanskrit. It is a part of the Vedic sciences, which includes Yoga, Vedanta, and Vedic astrology. Its foundation is based on the Atharva Veda, the last of the 4 Vedas known as the ancient Indian scriptures. It is one of the oldest medical practices, with a history of over 5000 years.
Ayurveda is a complex and multifaceted system that has evolved continuously to reach its present state. It is one of the most important holistic medical systems in the world, encompassing all aspects of health and wellness, including physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Instead of merely treating the symptoms and outcomes of an illness, Ayurveda seeks to find the root cause and eliminate it.
Yoga and Ayurveda are sister disciplines that have developed together and influenced each other throughout history. Both disciplines are integral parts of the ancient Vedic knowledge system, which teaches that the key to cosmic knowledge lies within our minds and hearts. They work together to strengthen the benefits they offer us. They can also be integrated with Vedic or Yogic astrology, architecture, music, and linguistics to apply in a wider area.
Ayurveda is primarily a self-healing science aimed at healing the body and mind. It is a spiritual healing that restores our wholeness by accessing our inner self. However, this does not mean that Ayurveda is a completely individual healing method that does not require therapists and doctors. On the contrary, Ayurveda stresses that medical practitioners are essential for treating complex illnesses and applying the necessary treatments for health.
Ayurveda is a unique and personalized healing system based on spiritual focus, incorporating lifestyle adjustments, personalized nutrition programs, potent herbal formulas, meditation, and yoga. Its most important contribution to our lives is teaching us how to maintain our health and increase our energy and awareness. It is an ideal lifestyle that not only prolongs life but also increases creativity.
Ayurveda looks at the human body as a whole and even sees it as a mind/body entity according to the holistic principle. According to this principle, our body is a living organism that is constantly in a relationship with all its parts and growing. The body continuously measures bone density, blood, and hormone levels and carries necessary nutrients from one place to another as needed. This ensures homeostasis, which means a stable environment is maintained inside the body. No part of the body is separate from another and cannot live separately. The body is a perfect example of wholeness.
According to Ayurveda, there are three main causes of a disease:
1- Misuse of the mind and body (Prajnaparadha); suppressing or overstimulating natural needs, excessive sexual activity, inappropriate behavior, disrespecting elders, enjoying harmful objects, inappropriate use of power, befriending wrongdoers, neglecting healthy actions, anger, fear, pride, greed, hatred, drunkenness, lying, disrespecting local traditions.
2- Unhealthy combination of sense organs with sense objects (Asatmenyendriyartha Samyoga); over or under stimulation of the five sense organs, staring at very bright objects, looking at distorted, dangerous, shocking, scary things, not using eyes, noises, painful cries, harsh speech, news of death, hurtful words, hearing false sounds, unpleasant odors, toxic gases, foul smell of dead things, excessive intake of a taste, improper preparation of food.
3- Unexpected changes in time and season (Kala-Parinama); disrespecting natural cycles, daytime sleep (unless recommended), excessive activity after sunset, sunrise, sunset, sexual activity during menstrual periods, excessive exposure to cold in summer, heat in winter, too many hot/cold baths, contact with rough surfaces, dirty, harmful, very cold/objects.
According to Ayurveda, there are six stages of disease: accumulation, aggravation, overflow, displacement, manifestation, and diversification.
Accumulation occurs when cells begin to clog up with their own metabolic waste. The waste from each cell should be moved away from it for the health of the cell. Improper nutrition, climatic changes, changes in lifestyle, and other stresses contribute to a weakened metabolism. Treatment is very easy at this stage because the disease has not spread much and has not advanced much.
Aggravation occurs when the accumulation in cells increases and they begin to lose their functions and exert pressure on the surrounding cells. At this stage, organs are under stress, but good treatment yields results.
Overflow occurs when trying to fill a glass already full of water. This overflow occurs towards other cells, mixing with the blood, lymph, and digestive systems. The disease has now spread and will move and affect other parts of the body. This is a form of adaptation where the body’s stress spreads to the environment.
During displacement, we can clearly see the symptoms. Accumulation in cells is now recognized as a clear symptom. For example, pain, discomfort, headache, and fatigue.
In the manifestation stage, a complex set of symptoms appears as a whole. For example, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, diabetes, and other diseases.
In the diversification stage, imbalances caused by the dominant element emerge.
Each of these stages takes a certain amount of time and reaching the final stage is not so easy and fast. The healing process of diseases that take a long time to manifest also takes time.
Ayurveda does not try to heal by suppressing symptoms. Because the mind/body targets the underlying causes of these symptoms together, the healing process takes time, just like the disease process itself. If there is a headache, an instant pain reliever is not given, instead, the cause triggering it is sought and eliminated. Because if the underlying cause is not eliminated, the headache will return. Ayurveda has now become recognized and widespread in the West and even in our country with its ability to significantly improve chronic diseases that are the most common and untreatable today.
