| Copyright (c) 2010 Rick Roux | | | | individual constitution; waste products (malas) are |
| Ayurveda, the ancient "Science of Life," is one of | | | | produced and eliminated normally; and the mind, |
| the oldest forms of health care in the world. It is | | | | senses and consciousness are working |
| a holistic science that places great emphasis on | | | | harmoniously together. When the balance of any |
| prevention and aims at bringing about and | | | | of these systems is disturbed, the disease |
| maintaining harmony of body, mind and | | | | process begins. Basically, any aggravation of the |
| consciousness. It encompasses diet and lifestyle | | | | doshas affects agni (the digestive fire) and |
| guidelines, herbal formulas and preparations, yoga | | | | produces toxins or ama. Other factors play a role |
| and meditation practices, as well as various | | | | in the formation of ama, as well. Some of these |
| therapies that support and enhance individual | | | | factors are poor digestion of food, improper food |
| Ayurvedic programs. | | | | combinations and choices, poor drinking water, |
| Ayurveda defines health as the state where | | | | pollution, pesticides in food, emotional and physical |
| every aspect of our being is working properly and | | | | stress or trauma, and so on. These toxins |
| in harmony with all its other aspects. That is, the | | | | accumulate and spread throughout the body and |
| digestive fire (agni) is in a balanced condition; the | | | | eventually deposit themselves into the deeper |
| three doshas âvata, pitta and | | | | tissues, organs or channels, creating dysfunction |
| kaphaâ are in equilibrium according to the | | | | and disease. |