AYURVEDA - VEDIC MEDICAL SCIENCE
Vedas are the books of knowledge compiled by the Guru Veda Vyasa born in Damauli Nepal in the previous eons. The 4 Vedas (Rig-Veda, Samveda, Ajurveda and Atharvaveda) are the father of all the religious texts, literatures and scientific discoveries. And, Ayurveda is one of the chapter of Atharvaveda that studies herbal medicines and over-all longevity / well-being of human-beings. The word Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit language of Nepal meaning Ayur (life) and Veda (Knowledge). Obviously, the origin of Ayurveda is the pious land of Nepal.
From the time immemorial, the saints and sages of Nepal discovered herbal medicine through meditation on the foot-hills of Nepal Himalaya. Still, there are many places named after those saints viz. Kausik Rishi (Koshi) Bhardwaj Rishi (Bhardaha), Janak Rishi (Janakpur), Kapil Rishi (Kapilavastu), Kashyap Rishi (Kaski), Manu Rishi (Manaslu). Charak and Chyawan Rishi are supposed to be the most esteemed sages for Ayurvedic discoveries. They had meditated on the Panchase hill and practiced Ayurveda. Non-the-less, Ayurveda is an ancient health care tradition that has been practiced in Nepal from the very beginning of human civilization. Archeological facts proved that Ayurveda was in practice more than 60,000 years ago. Long later, the Hindus of India and the Chinese during Lao-Tzu period learnt Nepal's herbal medical science by heart. Moreover, its popularity gained worldwide when it is integrated with Yoga and Meditation.
Ayurveda means 'knowledge for longevity' and it is a comprehensive, holistic, traditional health care system of Nepal. India imitated cunningly and now followed by western world too Ayurveda is based on the five elements of our universe; fire, air, ether, earth, water. These elements are represented in humans by three Doshas (bodily energy); Kapha (water), Vata (air), Pitta (fire). Our health and well-being depend on getting right balance of the three Doshas. People become ill if imbalance occurs in Tri-Doshas. Therefore, the major objective of Ayurveda is to balance Tri-Doshas. WHO has firmly stated that Ayurveda is the most reliable medical treatment as it goes to the very core and treats without any side effect. It is said that Homeopathy begins when allopathic stops working. And, it is true allopathic is taken just as a remedy but cannot cure the disease whereas homeopathy (Ayurvedic treatment) finds out the root cause and cures from the very bottom. This is the reason why patients come to visit Ayurvedic hospitals when they get tired of visiting several renowned modern hospitals. "Health is happiness ", Indeed, what is the point of having millions of property when your body is unhealthy and unable to enjoy. Modern people are living in turmoil and tragedy. Action against nature, chemical food and modern lifestyle is the main problem of health deterioration. People eat too much as if they are living for eating. Junk food, cane food and chemical food are slowly poisoning themselves. Balancing Kapha- Batha- Pitta and letting the natural blockage open is the main theme of Ayurveda.
TRIDOSHA (Kapha- Vatha- Pitta)
The concept of Tridosha (Kapha- Vatha- Pitta) in Ayurveda is very unique to modern medical science Ayurveda says the body is made up of tissues (dhatus), waste products (mals), and doshas (energetic forces). It is the Tridosha's that influence all movements, transformation, sensory functions in our body and mind. Vata Dosha: Vata literally means the substance called air and related to air element. Vata is the main mover of the body. It is related with blood, semen, urine, sweat, respiration, heart-beat, contractions of muscles, various metabolisms in the body and relays all sensory input to the brain. Pitta Dosha: The Pitta Dosha is associated with fire or heat and it is related with bile / metabolic substance. Pitta provides digestion of food, maintains body temperature, eye-sights, appetite, courage, reasoning and judgments.
Kapha Dosha: Kapha literally means mucus and related with water element. It carries lubrication that the body needs. It helps to counterbalance Vata's movement and Pitta's metabolism. It provides physical task, strength, healthy off-springs. Imbalance of Tridoshas causes, physical and mental disorder. Kapha is predominant during childhood; pitta in middle age and Vatha in the old age. Ayurveda teaches us to make balance of the Tridoshas for a healthy body and mind; mainly by life-style management. Remarks:
Ayurveda, the life science, is the oldest authentically recorded science in existence today. Ayurveda means "the science of life" or "a natural way of living". The Saint Veda Vyasa (born in Damauli, Nepal) is the author of Ayurveda. It describes about the inevitability of yoga and meditation for a beautiful life. Nepal is a treasure trove for Himalayan Herbs. It is the reason why the Hanuman came to Nepal (Pokhara) in order to get Sanjivani when Laxman was hurt by Rawan's arrow. THE ART OF EATING & LIVING
Nepal is the origin place of Ayurveda. The wild earth beneath mighty Himalayas is the treasure trove for Himalayan herbs. When Nepalese are in trauma and tragedy suffering from various diseases then needless to talk about miserable peoples of other countries. Many people die not because of hunger but not knowing how to eat and what to eat. It seems that most of the people live for eating. No doubt, food is ambrosia but at the same time it can be poison if you don't know how to eat. Lack of consciousness and carelessness, people are taking slow poison in the name of so-called sophisticated food and being a poisonous man. Culture of selling milk and buying wine, selling organic wheat and buying a packet of noodles, fashion of using papaya shampoo instead of eating is somewhat laughable towards healthy lifestyle. For not knowing balance diet and Ayurvedic food all most all the human problems have been aroused. Rather birds and animals eat wittily but not the humans. Lack of exercise, imbalanced diet, use of excessive ready-made- oily and spicy food, salt, white sugar, ajinomoto, preservative used juices, coca cola and other beverages are the major cause of health problems. Consequently people are living with death having tension, restlessness, hypertension, migraine, heart attack, diabetics, asthma, kidney damage, gastric, sinus, cancer and hundreds of diseases. What is the worth of wealth when you cannot enjoy life at all? Therefore, it is my sincere suggestion to all the health concerns to follow up the below given tips for a healthy body, mind and soul. (a) Start Vegan life and take only organic food. (b) Respect food, eat like a poor and live like a king. (c) Avoid oily and spicy food, white sugar and salt. (d) Food used ajinomoto and preservatives, junk food, canned food, coca cola and other beverages including artificial juices. (e) Please take herb dust (honey or lemon) with warm water in the morning, whey at noon and a glass of milk in the evening. (f) Please take raw food or half boiled vegetables, salads, cereals and fruits every day. (g) Tulsi, turmeric, onion, garlic, coriander, fenugreek, Jwano, anaised seed, cumin seed, mint, aloe-Vera, cinnamon, Triphala and more other herbs regularly. (h) Take food on time, little but balanced diet. (i) Evening food must be very light just to chew or swallow. (a) NEVER TAKE (lemon, citrus, sour, curd, whey, orange, amala or pickle) with starch or carbohydrate food like; rice, roti, chapatti, bread, potatoes etc. It disturbs enzyme formation and digestive process. However, if taken with proteins (cereals, dal, legumes, salads or green vegetables) does not harm at all. (b) No vegetables with sugar, sweets or sweet fruits. (c) Do not take milk with curd, sweets, sweet fruits or juice. (d) Do not take watermelon with and Duck's meat together. (e) Never mix juice with tea, coffee, cold drinks, curd or wines. (f) Maida floor and sugar is also equally harmful. (g) Fish + dal, fish + meat, meat + egg, meat + milk, paneer + egg, milk + egg or horlicks or cold drinks are very harmful to our body.
Remarks: Food quality directly depends on our psychology. Therefore, neat & clean food with nice decoration is recommended. Eating quietly with burning oil lamps is soul soothing. Mixture of several food items disturbs in its original taste and enzyme production. Brass or bronze dishes are best for balancing Tri-doshas. MONODIET & AYURVEDIC FOOD IS THE KEY FOR A HEALTHY LIFE. FOOD IS GOD - FOOD IS LIFE- LETS NOT WASTE FOOD. AYURVEDIC BALANCED DIET
Ayurveda (knowledge of longevity) is the Vedic medical science originated in Nepal. According to Ayurved our body consists of three vital energies-Doshas; Vatha (air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (water). The whole essence Ayurveda lies in balancing Tri-Doshas (three bodily energies). What you eat matters for body and mind growth. Therefore, eating a balanced diet is very important for a healthy life.
Ayurvedic diet identifies six tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. Each taste has different energetic effects on the mind and body. That is the reason why we need to have bitter and sour things too. Modern people love to eat sweets and salty things only which creates imbalances in Tri-Doshas.
Vatha People: Light built, naturally creative, fast in action, sensitive, dry skin, prefer warm and humid climates. They love liquid food as they have irregular digestion. Comparatively such people have fear and anxious in small matter too.
Balancing Vatha: When you suffer with Vatha, your body system becomes irregular and affects weak organs and tissues. Constipation, dehydration, Anxious, craving warmth, frequent viral infection, weight loss and disturbance in sleep are the symptoms of Vatha imbalance. It would be much better to have bitter, astringent and spicy tastes to restore Vata imbalance. Easily digestible foods like steamed starchy vegetables (leafy vegetables, cauliflower mushroom), ripe fruits, warm milk, buck-wheat soups, Herb tea, and mild spices (cumin, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, rock salt, cloves, black-pepper) is recommended.
Pitta People (fire): Medium muscular built, productive, hard-working, irritable, fair red skin and prefer cold climates.
Balancing Pitta: People become aggressive and irritable when Pitta is imbalanced. Diarrhea, over-heating/sweating, sundry dreams, excessive hunger, frequent bacterial infection, frequent pimples and heart-burnt are its symptoms. They have much sweating and bad smelling body. Comparatively they are wise and good speaker. Excessive consumption of alcohol, oily, fried, salty, hot-spicy and fermented food is the cause of Pitta imbalance. For this, sweet, bitter and astringent taste and cool- heavy food such as cereals, wheat, barley, buck-wheat, millet. Herbs like clove, cardmom, cinnamon, alaichi, mint and coriander are recommended. They must not take ginger, jwano, garlic, onion, pepper, fenugreek, gahat, whey, wines, sour- bitter- hot and salty food.
Kapha People (water): Heavy body- no nerves or bones seen, strut, oily skin, stable, tolerance, methodical, easy-going. They have regular hunger but slow digestion process. They love spicy, oily, sweets and sour / bitter things,
Balancing Kapha (water): Mental and physical laziness occurs if Kapha is imbalanced. Herbal massage helps to stimulate functioning and avoid heavy and lethargic feeling. Sluggish bowels, procrastination, frequent candida, water retention, craving for warm and spicy food, weight gain and excessive sleep are the major symptoms of Kapha people. Low fat diet, no napping at day time, light- warm and bitter taste food are recommended. Raw vegetables, fruits, cereals, millet, wheat, beans, peas, radish, grapes, papaya, pomegranate, ginger, turmeric, fenugreek, black pepper is recommended to have for Kapha people. However, regardless of body type, the life-style factors (stress, anxiety, imbalanced food, inadequate water & sleep, lack of exercise) beget imbalances in Doshas. Ayurveda maintains good balance in-between Tri-doshas with the regular use of turmeric and other herbal remedies, warm oil massage, yoga and life-style change (particularly diet). In general, half boiled green vegetables, fruits, honey, and ghee. milk is healthy diet. Similarly, maximum use of herbs like coriander, ginger, garlic cardamom, cloves, turmeric, pepper, cumin, mint, clover, Tulasi etc are highly recommended to have.
SOME COMMON HERBS USED IN NEPALI KITCHEN
There are more than 3200 herbs found in Nepal regularly used in Ayurveda. Cumin seed, ginger, onion, garlic, coriander, turmeric, fenugreek, Jwano, Hing, clove, cardmom, pepper, cinnamon, mustard, chilly, are some of the popular spice used in Nepali kitchen.
Tumeric: from 1500 Phd research American National institute of health found that tumeric can cure more than 580 diseases (mainly antibiotic- antiseptic). It is used for natural color and very good for balancing Tri-doshas and fertility (just like coriander).
Cumin seed: Cumin seed is the most popular spicy in Nepalese kitchen, used not for sweet fragrance but has very good digestion property- especially recommended for kapha people.
Fenugreek: It has vitamin D, works as tonic and very good for vatha people. Scientists have not found even a single disadvantage of fenugreek. It controls cholesterols and sugar in our body. Mother must take this for good breast feeding and keeping body hot. Unlike frying, fenugreek soaked in water is recommended to use in food.
Hing: It is milk -like thing that comes from special Himalayan tree. It stimulates digestive enzymes and creates hunger. Balancing bile and digestive system is its main property. It kills harmful bacteria and worms. Scientist of National University of Taiwan found that hing can be the good for making antiviral medicine in order to cure Swine flu and other influenzas.
Mint: Mint is a popular spice of everyone. It is good for gastric and to keep body / mind cool. Mint is recommended for piles, abdomen problem, low blood pressure, respiratory and heart weakness patient. Mint juice with Mishri (raw sugar) can be the best herbal beverage to kick-out coca-cola.
Jwano: It enriches pitta and balances Kapha and Vatha Doshas. Jwano is recommended for appetizer, cronic situation of asthma and mothers for breast feeding. All Nepalese women use it during pregnancy, menstruation and maternity. Indeed, it is tonic for them giving instant heat and energy. It is highly recommended to use for those who want to give up drug addiction.
