Organic Apoteke - About Ayurveda and Siddha Medicine
Ayurveda and its closely related sister Siddha Medicine are holistic systems of health, focusing on maintaining a physically and emotionally balanced state. These practices began over 6,000 years ago when Indian monks were looking for new ways to be healthy. These monks revered their bodies like temples for they believed that preserving their health would help them in them meditative and mental practice. Over thousands of years of near scientific observation and study, they shared their conclusions in an oral tradition, that is still practiced in some parts of Kerala. Some of this wisdom was documented in medical texts (written on palm leaves) to preserve the wisdom for future generations. This collection of knowledge came to be known as the "science or knowledge of life" -- Ayurveda or "Medicine of the Perfected Ones" - Siddha Vaidya.
How is Ayurveda/Siddha Medicine different from modern medicine?
- In Ayurveda, every individual is unique and there is no diet or lifestyle routine that works for everyone.
- Prevention is key. Ayurveda focuses on providing specific advice and guidance on how to maintain physical and emotional health.
- Food and lifestyle routines are considered the most important medicine. An Ayurvedic practitioner is more likely to teach you exercise and give you recipes than a prescription for pills.
How does Ayurveda work?
Ayurveda is based on the principles of individual constitution or dosha's. Doshas are the biophysical energy that enables your body to perform different physiological functions:
The 3 Main Dosha:
- Vata: The energy that controls bodily functions associated with motion, including blood and tissue fluid circulation, breathing, blinking of eyelids, and heartbeat.
- When this energy field is in balance: You feel creative and energetic.
- When this energy field is out of balance: You feel anxious or fearful.
- Pitta: The energy that controls the body's metabolic systems, including digestion, absorption, nutrition, and body's temperature.
- When this energy field is in balance: Enables a feeling of contentment and develops intelligence.
- When this energy field out of balance: Causes ulcers (git, skin, mucus membranes) and the feeling of anger.
- Kapha:The energy that controls growth in the body. It supplies water to all body parts, moisturizes the skin, and maintains the immune system.
- When this energy field in balance: It is expressed as love and forgiveness.
- When this energy field out of balance: Leads to insecurity and envy.
Each person has all three Doshas, but usually one or two dominate. The dosha's that dominate determine one's physiological and personality traits, as well as general likes and dislikes. These dosha’s also determine the sort of pathologies that one is prone to develop. Ayurvedic/Siddha Medicine diet plans are designed to prevent pathology in as much as they optimise functioning of the body. The Lean Jan Detox Plan is based on these concepts.