Source 9

Ayurveda is a holistic healing science used by a large amount of people throughout the world, especially India. Its literal meaning is the science of life. So it not only provides treatments, but it also gives guidance for how to live your whole life in a healthy manner. The two aims of Ayurveda are: 1) To maintain the health of healthy people 2) To cure the diseases of sick people. Every person is made up of five primary elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth. When any of these elements are imbalances in the environment, they will in turn have an influence on us. While we are a composite of these five primary elements, certain elements have the ability to combine to create various physiological functions.
The three main ones are as follows:
1) The elements combine with Ether and Air in dominance to form Vata Dosha. Vata Dosha governs the principle of movement and therefore can be seen as the force which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration and elimination.
2) The elements of Fire and Water combine to form the Pitta Dosha. This is responsible for process of transformation or metabolism. Ex: Nutrients in food are assimilated.
3) The elements of Water and Earth combine to form the Kapha Dosha. This is responsible for growth, adding structure. It also offers protection. Ex: The mucous lining of the stomach that protects it.
The ratios of each of these vary in each individual because each person has a special mixture that makes us all different. When any of the doshas become accumulated, Ayurveda will suggest specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to assist the individual in reducing the dosha that has become excessive. Also, herbal medicines will be suggested to cure the imbalance and disease. This explains why persons with the same disease may require different treatments and medications.

Other basic principles of Ayurveda include
Dhatus- These are the basic tissues which maintain and nourish the body. They are seven in number namely- rasa(chyle), raktha(blood), mamsa(muscles),meda(fatty tissue), asthi(bone), majja(marrow) and sukla(reprodutive tissue). Proper amount of each dhatu and their balanced function is very important for good health.
Mala- These are the waste materials produced as a result of various metabolic activities in the body. They are mainly urine, feaces, sweat etc. Proper elimination of the malas is equally important for good health. Accumulation of malas causes many diseases in the body.
Srotas- These are different types of channels which are responsible for transportation of food, dhatus, malas and doshas. Proper functioning of srotas is necessary for transporting different materials to the site of their requirement. Blockage of srotas causes many diseases.
Agni- These are different types of enzymes responsible for digestion and transforming one material to another.
The essence of treatment is the removal of the cause and avoidance of causative factors. Ayurvedic treatment does not mean suppressing the main symptoms and creating some new ones as side effects of the main treatment. It is to remove the root cause and give permanent relief. "Treatment is rooted in measure" : the effect of any particular therapy on any particular patient depends on its dosage, which again depends upon the climate, the doshas involved , the strength of the patient versus the strength of the disease, the patients age and constitution , the specific syndrome, the patients social environment , the goal of treatment and so on.Because the medicines are from natural sources and not synthetic, they are accepted and assimilated in the body without creating any side effects and on the other hand, there may be some side benefits. Along with medicine, proper diet and living style is also advised.
When the doshas are well harmonized and function in a balanced manner, it results in good nourishment and well being of the individual. But when there is imbalance or disharmony within or between them, ailments begin to rise.
You can increase each dosha by eating or drinking certain things. Not only does eating or drinking increase a dosha, but doing certain things each day. This list can be found online.
Ayurveda proposes three stages in the quest for good health: daily routine and seasonal activities to prevent illness, purification therapy and medications for diseases and rejuvenation of the system to enhance health and quality of life.
Ayurveda proposes three stages in the quest for good health: daily routine and seasonal activities to prevent illness, purification therapy and medications for diseases and rejuvenation of the system to enhance health and quality of life.
Guidelines for maintaining Good Health

Daily Routine
+ Awaken before sunrise
+ Evacuate bowels and bladder after awakening
+ Bathe every day to create a sense of bodily freshness
+ Exercise (preferably Yoga) and meditate
+ Wash hands before and after eating
+ Brush teeth after meals
+ Fast one day a week to help reduce toxins from the body
+ Sleep before 10 PM

Diet and digestion
+ Food should be fresh, warm, tasty and easy to digest.
+ Eating should not be too rushed or too slow. Chew your food nicely.
+ Do not eat while watching TV or while reading .
+ Eat in peaceful and pleasant surroundings.
+ Do not drink water one hour before or after meals . You can have it in small quantities with meals.
+ There should be at least four hours difference between two meals .
+ Do not take too many items in one meal. The items taken should also not be contradicting one another.
For example yogurt and milk or ice cream and hot coffee.
+ Fruits should not be mixed with meals. Either take a separate meal of fruits or eat between two meals.
+ If you feel tired or heaviness in the stomach after eating , this is improper eating. Eat according to your digestive power.
+ One teaspoon of grated fresh ginger with a pinch of salt is a good appetizer
+ A glass of warm milk with ginger at bedtime is nourishing and calms the mind
+ Exess intake of cold drinks reduces resistance and creates excess mucus
+ Taking a nap after lunch will increase kapha and body weight

Physical Hygiene
+ Oil massage promotes circulation and relieves excess vata.
+ If possible gaze at the rays of the sun at dawn for five minutes daily to improve eyesight.
+ Gazing at a steady flame , morning and evening for ten minutes , improves eyesight.
+ Do not repress the natural urges of the body , i.e. defecation, urination, coughing, sneezing, yawning, belching and passing gas
+ Bad breath may indicate constipation , poor digestion, unhygienic mouth and toxins in the colon.
+ Body odor indicates toxins in the system.
+ Rubbing the soles of the feet with sesame oil before bedtime produces a calm, deep sleep.
+ Reading in bed will injure the eyesight.
+ Application of oil to the head calms the mind and induces sound sleep.
+ Dry hair immediately after washing to prevent sinus problems.
+ Cracking the joints is injurious to the body.
+ Avoid physical exertion , such as yoga or running during menstruation.

Mental Hygiene
+ Fear and nervousness dissipate energy and aggravate Vata.
+ Possessiveness , greed and attachment increase Kapha.
+ Worry weakens the heart.
+ Hate and anger create toxins in the body and aggrevate Pitta.
+ Exessice Talking dissipates energy and aggravates Vata .

This encompasses some of the basic principles of Ayurveda, but there is still a lot more to it. There are also: Women and Child Care, Ageing and Rejuvenation, Philosophy & Yoga, Purification Therapies, and Diseases and Cures.

Ayurveda is very important to what I will observe while in India. This sort of lifestyle and thinking will be very common among people that I talk to. It is interesting that this way of living involves daily brushing ones teeth after each meal. If daily hygiene were performed in a proper way by each individual who lives by these principles, I would expect to see teeth in good condition. But after all of the studies I have read of research that has been done in India, it seems that I will not observe the best of teeth. Asking if people live by Ayurveda will be a great question for me to determine how prevalent this practice still is among the people. I look forward to learning more about their health codes and practices.