WORLD AYURVEDA DAY 29TH OCTOBER 2024
The Voice of Chandigarh News:
The Government of India celebrates”Ayurveda Day” every year on the auspicious day of ‘Dhanwantari Jayanti – Dhanteras’. This year the 9th Ayurveda Day falls on 29th October, 2024. Every year for celebration of Ayurveda day, a theme is chosen and various activities are undertaken with focus on the theme selected, this year the theme chosen for the 9th Ayurveda Day-2024 is ‘Ayurveda Innovation for Global Health’.
About Ayurveda
One of the oldest holistic treatment systems in the world, Ayurveda, has its roots in India and dates back more than 3,000 years. Originating from the Sanskrit terms “Ayur” (life) and “Veda” (knowledge), Ayurveda means “the knowledge of life.” Its foundation is the notion that a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit is essential to health and well-being. In contrast to contemporary medicine, which frequently treats certain symptoms, Ayurveda uses sustainable and natural methods to try to find the underlying causes of illnesses and advance wellness.
The idea that the five fundamental elements—space, air, fire, water, and earth—form the three doshas, or life energies, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, is fundamental to Ayurveda. Each person has a distinct combination of these doshas, which determines their constitution, or “Prakriti.” These doshas are said to influence many bodily functions. Energy levels, personality traits, digestion, and emotions are all impacted by this constitution. For instance, Pitta, which is connected to fire and water, regulates digestion and metabolism; Kapha, which is connected to earth and water, gives the body structure and lubrication; and Vata, which is connected to air and space, controls movement and communication. Ayurveda states that when these doshas become unbalanced as a result of dietary, environmental, or lifestyle decisions, health problems result.
Dietary recommendations, herbal remedies, yoga, meditation, and purification procedures like Panchakarma are just a few of the many therapies that are part of Ayurvedic traditions. An essential component of Ayurveda is nutrition. Ayurvedic nutrition customizes diets based on individual constitutions, seasonal fluctuations, and particular health concerns rather than using a one-size-fits-all strategy. A Vata person, who is frequently prone to dryness and cold, may need warm, grounding foods like cooked grains and root vegetables, whereas a Pitta-dominant person, who is prone to heat and inflammation, may benefit from cooling foods like cucumber and mint. Ayurvedic medicine also relies heavily on herbs like ginger, ashwagandha, and turmeric because of its many therapeutic benefits, which include immunological support, stress reduction, and anti-inflammatory effects.
One of the most well-known Ayurvedic therapies is panchakarma, which consists of five purification techniques. It encompasses treatments like Raktamokshana (bloodletting), Basti (enema), Virechana (purgation), Vamana (therapeutic vomiting), and Nasya (nasal medication delivery). Panchakarma seeks to promote health and longevity by ridding the body of poisons or “ama” and reestablishing doshic balance. To guarantee safety and effectiveness, these procedures are often carried out in a regulated setting under the guidance of an Ayurvedic professional.
In order to maintain balance, Ayurveda places a strong emphasis on preventative healthcare and the value of daily routines (dinacharya) and seasonal routines (ritucharya). Daily routines frequently involve self-massaging with oils that are appropriate for one’s dosha, oil pulling, and tongue scraping.
Despite being effectively practiced for centuries, Ayurveda is currently seeing a comeback as people look for more holistic alternatives to traditional medicine. There is encouraging promise for treating chronic illnesses, mental health conditions, and general well-being by integrating Ayurveda with contemporary medical procedures. Many Ayurvedic techniques are also starting to be validated by contemporary scientific study, which is illuminating their therapeutic advantages and mechanisms. To optimize health benefits, it is crucial to approach Ayurveda critically and combine its age-old knowledge with evidence-based practice.
In summary, Ayurveda is a philosophy of life that encourages harmony between the individual and the universe, not only a medical method. Its all-encompassing methodology, emphasizing individualized treatment, natural cures, and preventative measures, making it a vital resource.
