Ayurveda, with its tridosha or three humours
system, is able to provide a complete understanding of the cause of health in
terms of a metabolic balance. Disease is simply understood as an imbalance
between the nerve energy (vata), catabolic fire energy (pita) and anabolic
nutritive energy (kapha). Imbalance of the tridoshas leads not only to impaired
health, but also to an impaired mental condition, because the mind's health is
dependent on the body's health. Ayurvedic treatments are person specific rather
than disorder specific. The age of the patient, the climate in which he lives,
his cultural and social surroundings, and his bodily constitution, need to be
taken into account before offering a prognosis. Touch, inspection, and
interrogation are the main tools of diagnosis. Ayurvedic treatment is carried
out the internal and external use of herbal medicine in a coordinated or
integrated manner, as well as through surgery. Ayurveda's healing regimens have
been adapted and refined by people all over the world. |