What are the principles of ayurveda?
A healthy person, as defined in SushrutaSamhita, one of the primary works on Ayurveda, is “he whose doshas are in balance, appetite is good, all tissues of the body and all natural urges are functioning properly, and whose mind, body and spirit are cheerful…”
As per the Tridosha, or the Theory of Bio-energies,the three doshas, or bio-energies found in our body are Vata,Pitta and Kapha.Vata pertains to air and ether elements. This energy is generally seen as the force, which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration, and elimination.Kapha pertains to water and earth elements. Kapha is responsible for growth and protection. The mucosal lining of the stomach and the cerebral-spinal fluid that protects the brain and spinal column are examples of kapha. Pitta pertains to fire and water elements. This dosha governs metabolism, e.g., the transformation of foods into nutrients. Pitta is also responsible for metabolism in the organ and tissue systems.
Kerala Ayurvedic treatment is broadly of two types, Panchakarmam and Shamanam. Shamanam is a treatment that purges the disease and its symptoms through Kshut (fasting), Tritnigraham (restriction of fluids), Vyayamam (exercise), Atapaseva (sun rays), MarutaSeva (breeze of air), along with herbal medicines.If toxins in the body accumulate, then a cleansing process known as Panchakarma is recommended to purge these unwanted toxins. This five fold purification therapy is a classical form of treatment in Ayurveda. Ayurveda treatment packages in Kerala offers very distinct treatment modalities like njavarakizhy and pizhichil ,which are practiced only in Kerala.
