A GUIDE TO AYURVEDA Ayurveda, which originated in India, is a form of medicine that has been around since circa 1,000-2,000 BC, when the first known literary references to it were made. The word comes from two Sanskrit words, ayus and veda, and basically translates to “science of life.” The prevention of all types of diseases is a major focus of Ayurveda, and it has developed many methods designed to achieve this goal. Some of these have made it into the Western world. Ayurvedic herbs, massage techniques, and Yoga practices designed to prevent or alleviate disease are among these methods. Ayurvedic medicine teaches that the keys to good health are healthy metabolism, digestion, and elimination. Therefore, many Ayurvedic practices and preparations deal with these aspects of health. The system also promotes proper exercise, meditation, and massage. Balance is another big aspect of Ayurvedic medicine. To simply say “all things in moderation,” however, is an oversimplification. There are many Ayurvedic practices designed to maintain or restore balance. It is also believed to be unhealthy to suppress natural desires. Yet these desires are not to be allowed to become unbalanced; it’s not good to do them in overabundance, either. If a person goes to an Ayurvedic doctor, the doctor would not do many expensive tests like in Western medicine. Instead, he would use his own five senses to do the examination, being careful to observe aspects most others would either ignore or not know the significance of. How the patient stands, talks, and breathes are as important as things like body size and age. Based on observances of several key points, the doctor will then make his recommendations and prescribe treatments or preventative measures. These methods are still used by Ayurvedic doctors today. Fortunately, many Ayurvedic preventative and restorative measures don’t need to be prescribed by a professional. These are simply sound health practices that are already generally known to be good. One big area where a lot of good Ayurvedic practices can be employed is hygiene. Hygiene is a large part of Ayurvedic medicine. It is so important that it is even considered a sign of religious virtue for many Indians. A correlation between health, well-being, and hygiene has definitely been made. There are particular hygienic methods believed to be healthy, and these methods are encouraged by Ayurveda. Therefore, there are many hygienic preparations made with Ayurvedic principles in mind. For instance, Ayurvedic toothpaste is made using ingredients that Ayurvedic physicians have long known help the mouth, and Ayurvedic soap is made from natural oils and herbs to provide cleansing along with healing properties. Chandrika Ayurvedic Soap is one of these soaps. Developed by an Ayurvedic physician in India, its oils have been chosen to work together to help with specific skin conditions. It is said to help prevent pimples, rashes, irritation, and infection. It is also designed to nourish and refresh, and of course, to cleanse the skin. Mysore Sandal Soap is another soap made using Ayurvedic principles. Its prime ingredient is sandalwood oil, which has antiseptic as well as soothing properties. Its sandalwood oil is distilled by the government of Karnataka, India. It is mixed with glycerine to make this healthy, beauty-enhancing Ayurvedic soap. Vicco Ayurvedic toothpaste is made according to the system’s ancient principles. It is made from 20 pure herbal extracts. These extracts have been shown to be good for the gums, teeth, and the mouth in general. It contains no artificial ingredients, harsh abrasives, or fluoride. Vicco’s manufacturer even takes the step of purifying its water through a multi-stage system. This Ayurvedic toothpaste is not only healthy, it has all the qualities modern users want: It cleans the teeth, and provides a refreshing taste and sensation in the mouth. Ayurvedic practice, done in full, can mean a large range of lifestyle choices. For the Western world, however, it is often too difficult to adopt all of these practices. Fortunately, it is possible to improve health and well-being even without making big changes. By the use of products like Chandrika Ayurvedic soap and Vicco Ayurvedic toothpaste, people can easily bring some of the benefits of Ayurveda into their daily lives. Give these items a try and see how much better you feel after using these all-natural products based on ancient Ayurvedic knowledge. |