This World Health Day, WHO will be celebrating the relationship between health and the planet.
It will discuss the role of the planet and environment on our overall health and how they can contribute to treating our diseases.
When talking about the planet and health, one can simply not overlook Ayurveda, an ancient Indian healing system.
Why? Keep reading to find your answers.
World Health Day 2022 : Everything You Need To Know
The Sanskrit word Ayurveda is derived from two words Ayur (which means life) and veda (which means science or knowledge). Thus, Ayurveda is literally translates to the science of life. Conceptualised on the idea that disease is caused by an imbalance or stress in an individual’s consciousness, Ayurveda underlines the need to execute lifestyle changes and incorporate natural therapies to strike a balance between mind, body, spirit, and the environment.
Ayurveda and Health
Ayurvedic medicine is, arguably, the world’s oldest holistic (or whole-body) healing systems. Common spices as well as herbs and herbal mixtures are used in the treatment. Moreover, unique preparations known as Rasayanas are used for rejuvenation, slowing down the process of ageing, and promoting longevity. An advanced group of purification procedures, which is known as Panchakarma, eliminates toxins from the body. Whereas Western medicine system of allopathy is effective in treating acute medical problems, Ayurveda has the proven ability to efficiently manage chronic disorders and diseases. It may be concluded that through Ayurveda’s thorough approach, emphasis on prevention, and its proven ability to manage chronic disorders, it can eventually improve the health status of the population of the world. Hence, on this World Health Day, it would be quite right to say that there is a need to return to sustainable medicine with Ayurveda.
Ayurveda and Life Energy
In the U.S., Ayurveda is considered as a type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In Ayurveda, it is believed that everything in the universe (which is dead or alive) is intricately connected. If your mind, body, and spirit are in perfect harmony with the universe, you will have excellent health. When something causes disruption to this balance, you experience sickness. Some of the things that can upset this balance include genetic or birth defects, age, injuries, your emotions, and changes to the climate and seasons.
Practitioners of Ayurveda believe that the human body comprises of five basic elements found in the universe: water, earth, air, fire, and space.
These combine in the body to form three life forces or energies, which are known as doshas. These control how your body works. These doshas are Vata dosha (air and space), Pitta dosha (fire and water), and Kapha dosha (water and earth).
Each one of us inherits a unique mix of these three doshas. That said, one turns out to be stronger than the others. Each one is responsible for the control of a different body function. It is believed that your chances of falling sick and the health complications you develop are eventually linked to the balance of these doshas.
Ayurveda Treatment
The primary goal of Ayurvedic treatment is to cleanse the human body of undigested food, which can remain within the body, leading to illness. The cleansing process (known as Panchakarma) is designed to get rid of symptoms and achieve balance and harmony.
To achieve this, an Ayurvedic practitioner may focus on purification of your blood, massage, and the use of herbs, medical oils, and laxatives or enemas.
To Sum It All Up:
World Health Day is celebrated on April 7 every year, with the theme for this year being “our planet, our health.” When the goal is to offer healthcare to every single person, one cannot overlook the ancient science of life or Ayurveda, which is a 3,000-year-old system of medicine that originated in India. This holistic system of medicine involves the use of massage, herbs, medical oils, and laxatives to balance the doshas, thus striking a balance between mind, body, spirit, and the environment.
