What is Ayurveda?

One way to begin the journey to learning about
India's ancient system of health understanding,
the Science of Life, is to contemplate another question:
"What is Health?"

Sushruta, some thousands of years ago,
offered the following sanskrit sutra:

While this sutra's translation offered here is somewhat self explanatory, note that the first line suggests the intimate relationship of the journey to greater health with that of spiritual development. This particular angle comes from my teacher, Dr. Lad and his lineage.

It is with great honor that Boulder Ayurveda offers this complete Ayurveda to you.

Here is the brief introduction to Ayurveda given in the intake packet sent out from the office:

A Brief Introduction To Ayurveda

Ayurveda means “the science of life”. It is an ancient system of healing that focuses on the complete person which includes the body, mind, heart and soul. Traditional medicine tends to focus on a specific symptom or disease. Ayurveda says that for complete wellness to occur, the body, mind and spirit must be in harmony with each other and naturally resistant to disease causing conditions.

Ayurveda defines wellness not as “the absence of defined disease” but when all bodily tissues, organs, systems and functions are acting together in a healthy way and are able to maintain health and wellness in spite of potential illness causing influences. Ayurveda believes that by balancing the various mind-body functions the natural intelligence of the body will automatically bring itself to wellness.

Ayurveda uses natural processes and methods whenever possible for bringing wellness and restoring good health. There is an emphasis on simplicity.  Traditional or ‘Western’ medicine usually attempts to restore health by treating the symptoms of the body or by attacking the disease, and usually uses artificial drugs and medicines to treat these symptoms and diseases. Ayurveda is complimentary to traditional medical practices and does not replace medical diagnosis and treatment.

Ayurveda recognizes that each person has a unique mind-body constitution. Ayurveda then identifies the various components of that individual’s constitution, determines where imbalances and disturbances exist, and provides education, guidance and a plan for helping the individual bring about their own improvements in health and wellness.  There is a focus first on diet and lifestyle and on removing causes of imbalance, because these are important.

Ayurvedic practices focus on clearing disturbances and balancing metabolic and energetic patterns that support constitutional resilience. It is the individual’s implementation of the right Ayurvedic practices that brings about balance and wellness. People are more vulnerable to developing pathological illness or disease when vital energies of the mind, body and spirit are disrupted. Ayurveda can assist in learning how to improve health through improved lifestyle functions.

Ayurveda is currently considered a form of complementary and alternative medicine in the United States by the National Institute of Health Office of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. It is not licensed by the state of Colorado as a medical discipline or practice.

Boulder Ayurveda works with clients through a collaborative planning process. Collaborative planning is a process for developing an understanding between you and Boulder Ayurveda for specific services including,

Additional information about Ayurveda and our services is available at Boulder Ayurveda’s office. Ask the office staff for the free booklet “Introduction to Ayurveda” or for information specific to your interest.  Ayurveda is one marvelous gate into the tapestry of wisdom knowledge of Vedic Culture.  Welcome to the journey toward Perfect Health!

 

Some text courtesy Ayurvedic Institute,
Please visit
www.ayurveda.com for more information

also

Varadaan wrote the description of Ayurveda currently posted on the website for
the Colorado Ayurvedic Medical Association, COLORAMA