River Ganga on its way from the
source to the ocean

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books

Ayurveda is one of the 40 aspects
of Veda and the Vedic Literature.
This supremely precious knowledge
of Totality of Life has been preserved
by the Vedic Pandit family traditions of India over many thousands of years


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Although the ancient knowledge of Ayurveda is universal, traditionally,
it has been held that the best
ayurvedic herbs grow in the
Himalayas
 

What is Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the most ancient, natural, and systematic health care system of the world. It is widely acclaimed to be in many respects the "mother of modern medicine". It is recognised by WHO. Experts consider Ayurveda to be free from harmful side-effects. The holistic nature of the Ayurvedic approach to health makes it full of side-benefits.

Ayurveda is a part of the Veda, the all-comprehensive science of consciousness. "Ayuh" means "life", "Veda" means "total knowledge". Ayurveda, therefore, means a holistic science of life that takes into account all fields of life on both levels, individual and collective, with the goal of extending the span of healthy life to the maximum.

Origin of Ayurveda
The term "Ayurveda" comes from the Sanskrit language, the spiritual, scientific, poetic language of the highly evolved Vedic Civilisation that flourished many thousands years ago. It covered mainly the area of what we know today as India and Pakistan but extended to regions as far as from Persia upto Thailand and Indonesia and further. The remains of the Vedic Civilisation are to be found in India of today but can be traced all-over the world.

Ayurveda – known and celebrated all-over the world
In today's world, Ayurveda became almost a household word. It was not always so. It took a „great seer“ to popularise this system of medicine world-wide. The need of time was recognised in the middle of 1970's by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, India's greatest saint and philosopher. In collaboration with top Indian experts of Ayurveda and Western scientists, he presented the system and the benefits of Ayurveda to the scientific world in the West and the wider public. A number of in-patient Maharishi Ayurveda Health Centers were opened in the 1980s in Europe – and a success story was born: Ayurveda started its new march around the world.

The Ayurvedic Definition of Health: Balance
Many milleniums ago, Sushruta, one of the ancient experts of Ayurveda,
defined health as a state of physiological, psychological,
and spiritual balance:
Mantra
Samadoshah samāgnishcha samadhātumalakriyah, prasannātmendriyamanah svāstha ityabhidhīyate

"A person is called healthy, whose physiological processes and tissues
are in balance, whose digestion functions normally, whose elimination
processes are working well, and whose Self, mind, and senses remain
always full of bliss.“

Two "magic words" of Ayurveda: balance and prevention
Any imbalanced use or functioning of the nervous system is or leads to a disease. The uniqueness of Ayurveda is that it can actually prevent the appearance of a disease. Prevention is possible on the basis of recognizing the development of an imbalance, i.e. a development of a disease, in an earlier stage – much before the disease shows it's symptoms.
Ayurveda recognises an imbalance in the 1st  out of 6 stages of the development of a disease
Western medicine is usually able to recognise and treat a disease only in the last stage of development, when the symptoms are already manifest. Ayurveda recognises three Doshas as the basic psycho-physiological principles of life. Through special method of diagnosis, so-called Nādi Vigyān or ayurvedic pulse reading, it can recognise any imbalances in the early stage of development.                                                                         Back to top

Vedic Principle of Prevention
Mantra
"Avoid the suffering that has not yet come."

Ayurveda - the royal way to health through prevention
Moreover, the unique and practical "tridosha concept" of Ayurveda, allows our ayurvedic physicians to recommend to you a routine of diet and life style, that will be conducive to maintaining of health and strengthening of the immune system even at home after your Panchakarma.

Ayurveda's holistic approach
Except Ayurveda, there seems to be no other system of health, that can so easily predict or detect an imbalance and give specific advice for preserving health to everyone. „Modern medicine“ simply has no tool how to prevent diseases in a holistic way. It can very well treat symptoms of a disease but Ayurveda heals in a holistic manner because it tries to remove the very root of the disease which is, ultimately, the imbalance of the 3 doshas.

Of course, if you undergo a treatment by your family doctor at home it is advisable to follow his recommendations. However, now that you have been introduced to Ayurveda, you have additional strategy to cure and prevent any disease. Therefore, it would be good to incorporate into your day-to-day life the precious advices which you will receive during your Panchakarma.
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Areas of Benefit
Ayurveda is a holistic science and therefore influencing all areas of life. Mental and physical development, behaviour, etc. Here are listed some of the disorders successfully treated by Ayurveda:

    • Stress-related disorders
    • Cardiovascular disorders
    • Digestive tract disorders
    • Immune system
    • Metabolic disorders, e.g. weight reduction
    • Joint and spinal disorders
    • Respiratory diseases
    • Allergic disorders
    • Skin diseases
    • Genito-urinary disorders, e.g. fertility problems, impotency
    • Various psychological disorders
    • Insomnia
    • Migraine
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Books on Ayurveda
Ayurveda & Panchakarma – The Schience of Healing and Rejuvenation
            by Sunil V. Joshi M.D. (Ayu), (Lotus Press, USA, 1997)
A Woman's Best Medicine
            by Nancy Lonsdorf M.D., Veronica Butler M.D., and Melanie Brown PhD
            (Tarcher, USA, 1993)
For a Blissful Baby
            by Dr. Kummuda Reddy, Linda Egenes MA, Margaret Mullins RN
            (Lantern Books; New Ed edition, USA, February 2000)
Total Heart Health
            by Robert H. Schneider, M.D., and Jeremy Z. Fields, Ph.D. (Basic Health Publ., USA, 2006)
The Answer to Cancer - Is Never Giving It a Chance to Start
            by Hari Sharma MD, Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra and James G. Meade
            (SelectBooks Inc., USA, 2002)
Freedom from Disease - Freedom From Disease: How to Control Free Radical,
            a Major Cause of Aging and Diseases
            by Dr. Prof. Hari Sharma (Atrium Publishers Group, USA, 1993)
Perfect Blood Pressure Naturally -- Reduce Drug Intake, Improve Your Well-Being, Enhance Your Life
            by Dr David Lovell-Smith FRNZCGP (Penguin Global, 2003)

Traditional Vedic Literature about Health and Ayurveda
As always with translations from Sanskrit: misinterpretations, mistakes, and the inadequate nature
of modern languages make it necessary to read with caution and some knowledge of Sanskrit.

Charaka Samhita
      Various translations exist, e.g. Prof. Michel Angot (French), Bhagwan Dash (4 vol. with Engl.)
Sushruta Samhita
      English translations are on the market
Vagbhatta
Ashtangahridayam  

Recent articles about Ayurveda found in popular magazines and newspapers
English language
Sharjah: 'No Disease is Incurable' - Dr.Tanmay Goswamy
         daijiworld.com, 22. July 2007
          http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n id=36009&n_tit=Sharjah%3A+'No+Disease+is+Incurable'++-
                  ++Dr.Tanmay+Goswamy
Lower Cholelesterol through Ayurvedic Treatments
          The American Chronicle, 18. July 2007
          www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=32431
Herb may aid diabetes control
          Reuters, 18. July 2007
          http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUKCOL86480920070718
Turmeric may help beat brain disease
          Hindustan Times, 19. July 2007
          http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=f09a0ba5-dde0-4ed4-8a0e-e83251c08b37
Scientists discover benefits of turmeric in Indian dishes
          Hindustan Times, 24. July 2007
          http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=7f6fc022-8bca-48c2-a358-
          178de74fc2d0&&Headline=Spices+in+Asian+cuisine+have+health+benefits
An ancient approach to modern healh care
          The Independent.ie, 24. July 2007
          http://www.independent.ie/national-news/an-ancient-approach-to-modern-healthcare-690748.html
Traditional Indian herbal mix triphala new hope against pancreatic cancer
          The Indian Express, 24. July 2007
          http://www.indianexpress.com/story/28777.html
Washington Univ takes up Ayurveda study
          ibnlive.com, 05.03.2007
          http://www.ibnlive.com/news/washington-univ-takes-up-ayurveda-study/35256-3.html
Ayurveda for Psoriasis
          Cybernoon.com (Afternoon Dispatch & Courier), 2007
          http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=xtras&subsection=healthcheck&xfile=
          February2007_extraspecial_standard1042&child=extraspecial
Detox regimens aim to flush out the bad
          The News & Observer, 04. Jan. 2007
          http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/528396.html
Equal treatment to all systems of medicine: Chief Minister
          The Hindu, 2.1.2001
          http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/01/02/stories/0402404y.htm

German language
Ayurveda: Mutter der Medizin – bei Stress, Schlaflosigkeit und Herzrasen
          Medical Tribune, Nr. 6, 2006
          http://www.medical-tribune.de/patienten/magazin/19574/
Das ist was fürs Herz: Ayurveda, Meditation, Tai Chi
          Äerzte-Zeitung, 16.3.2006
          http://www.aerztezeitung.de/docs/2006/03/16/049a1301.asp?cat=/medizin/alternativmedizin
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