› The insights of Ayurveda

Ayurveda, the science of life is an Indian health care doctrine dating back over 5000 years that is largely based on knowledge acquired by observing nature. Man drew on his five sense organs to make his observations and the scholars accordingly concluded that there are five elements that form the essence of all matter.

The five basic elements of Ayurveda are ether (space), air, fire, water and earth. The scientific, philosophical ayurvedic system of the time was already so far advanced as to recognise that everything of substance is made up of structures of the smallest parts. Since every material body, including the human body and food, is made up of these elements in different proportions, one can differentiate between certain qualities of these structures. And because the different elements can have a mutual influence on each other, Ayurveda therapy provides us with a simple tool to restore balance to the person as a whole. This insight forms the basis of almost every ayurvedic treatment.

› The person in Ayurveda

The Ayurveda elements in people appear as a unique pattern in each individual. This means that in Ayurveda, each person is regarded as an individual with his own characteristic qualities and needs. The combination of these 5 natural elements in man make up the three bioenergies, the doshas, which are called vata, pitta, and kapha. The proportion to which they are present in the human body determines its constitution. This in turn means that no person is the same and even if the identical problem is presented, a completely different treatment may be required. Therefore, there is no generalisation of illnesses and therapies.

In Ayurveda, life first arises from the combination of body, mind and soul. A healthy and happy life is only possible with a harmonious combination of all three factors. Various internal and external factors can upset this harmony and trigger ailments. The objective of Ayurveda is to stop this in advance through the use of preventive measures.

These ways of looking at things lead us to the following relatively unique aspects of the ayurvedic doctrine: