Research Institute of Applied Ayurveda (RIAA)

Ayurveda is the knowledge of life. This science originated from India more than 5000 years ago, and was part of the knowledge recorded in the Vedic scriptures. The Vedas (the term “Veda”, in Sanskrit, is knowledge or science) are the world's oldest available classics and ancient Indian books of knowledge. Veda provides guidance on all aspects of life—from engineering and town planning to philosophy and spirituality. These truths are as relevant even today as they were in 5000 BC India, since the knowledge they contain is universal. Ayu is Sanskrit for “life” and veda is “knowledge”. However, this knowledge does not just refer to the practicalities of health, but offers a profound understanding of the connection between the body, mind, soul, and senses. The literal meaning of the term “Ayurveda” is the knowledge of living a long life. But, since life without happiness is unbearable, mental and spiritual happiness is inextricably linked with the health of the body. Ayurveda teaches the importance of a balanced mind and a satisfied soul for attaining true health and happiness. Ayurveda helps understanding the world we live in and gives us the tools to live in. By following Ayurveda we can create a tailor-made lifestyle, uniquely suited to us—including the right diet, exercise, meditation, and activities that nourish us completely. Moreover Ayurveda does not just consider the physical body. Instead, it recognizes the entire individual with his mind, body, senses, and soul. This inner contentment is the secret to real health and vitality.

It is difficult to date the origin of Ayurveda precisely due to the absence of written records. Ayurveda forms part of the Vedas, which are the oldest known records of human civilization. As the Vedic manuscripts are dated between 4000 and 6000 BC, studies have concluded that Ayurveda existed at that time and may have originated much earlier. Over time, most of the basic understandings were recorded in written form in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit. Therefore, the essence of this discipline remains unchanged even today. When the Vedas were recorded in written texts, the Ayurvedic wisdom that was spread throughout them was extracted by Ayurvedic scholars and compiled into “samhitas” (books or treatises). Three of the most ancient and major treatises of Ayurveda still exist today: Charaka Samhita (dealing with fundamental concepts, diseases, and herbal medicines), Sushruta Samhita (dealing with anatomy and surgery), and Astanga Hridaya, which offers an overview of the works of Charaka, Sushruta, and other renowned Ayurvedic scholars.

Ayurveda describes about eight specialized branches
of medicine:


	Kaya chikitsa (Internal medicine)
	Shalakya tantra (Diseases of the ear, nose, throat, and eye)
	Shalya tantra (General surgery)
	Agada tantra (Toxicology)
	Bhuta vidya (Mental Health or Psychiatry)
	Kaumarabhritya (Pediatrics)
	Rasayana (Geriatrics and Longevity)
	Vajikarana (Procreation and Reproduction)

The aim of Ayurveda is to maintain the health of the healthy and to cure the diseases of the sick- (Caraka Sutra) Ayurveda has two complementary aims

	To maintain the health of those who are well.
	To cure diseases of those who are sick.

Earth, and everything on it, is the product of different combinations of the five basic elements: earth (prithvi), water (jala), fire (agni), air (vayu), and space (akasha). It should be noted that the names of these elements are actually representative categories. Everything found on Earth can be classified into one of these five categories, based on their innate characteristics.

The “five element” theory explains the similarity between humans and the natural world surrounding them. We are physically composed of combinations of the five elements. The universe (natural environment) is also composed of the same five elements. Hence, we are simply microcosms of the universe surrounding us. In our body, space is present wherever there is a cavity, like in the nostrils, mouth, ears, throat, lungs, and stomach; air, in movement of the lungs, heart, stomach, intestines, and joints; fire, in metabolic activities, the eyes, intelligence, and body temperature; water, in plasma, blood, mucus, and saliva; and earth, in any solid structure like fat, muscles, skin, nails, and hair.

Ayurveda focuses on how to keep various elements balanced in the body, to prevent constant discrepancies and the subsequent physical or psychological distress. Balance (harmony) of the mind, body and soul is considered the state of health, and imbalance (disharmony) is the state of disease. When there is a lack of one or more of the elements, it can be balanced by taking herbs, minerals and foods that are dominant in that particular element/s. On the other hand, we can reduce the intake of particular foods, herbs and minerals to decrease an element/s that has become too dominant. For example, if there is an excess of water element in the body (creating bloating or congestion) we can reduce the intake of juicy, watery foods, herbs, and minerals. In its place, consuming substances that are dominant in the opposite element (fire) balances the elements. Similarly, a person suffering from a cough or cold, which is congestion and phlegm in the lungs created from too much water and earth, can consume ginger juice mixed with honey. This is dominant in fire and relieves the symptoms of cough and cold.

We cannot function effectively when we live separately from nature because all creation is made from the same basic building blocks. What occurs seemingly outside of us, in our environment is actually reflected within our bodies. Ayurveda recognizes these building blocks to be the five basic elements: space (akasha), air (vayu), fire (agni), water (jala), and earth (prithvi). In our bodies, health is that state when the elements remain completely balanced. Conversely, imbalances lead to disharmony, which ultimately leads to disease. All aspects of nature can be explained in terms of the elements, including seasons, times of the day, geographical and topographical location, and even more subtle aspects like emotions. For example, in summer the element fire predominates, in marshy areas water predominates, in the mountains on a windy day air predominates. Love is a watery emotion and anger is a fiery emotion.

According to Ayurveda, the elements are represented in a human being as vata, pitta, and kapha, known as the three doshas or biological energies.

Vata is composed of the elements air and space, and is responsible for all movement related functions in the body, such as respiration, circulation, and thought. On an emotional level it is responsible for such positive emotions as creativity and flexibility, and its negative aspects are fear and anxiety.

Pitta is composed of fire and water, and is responsible for metabolism, including digestion of food and life's experiences, and for hunger and thirst. Emotionally it is connected with courage, ambition, anger, and pride.

Kapha is composed of water and earth, and is responsible for cohesion; it provides the body's structure. It governs emotions such as love, devotion, greed, and jealousy.

Everybody is born with a unique combination of these three doshas and this is termed as their prakriti or constitution. This remains fixed throughout life. This combination of doshas provides us with certain strengths and weaknesses. Different activities, lifestyles, diets, and emotions increase a particular dosha or doshas. The doshas are increased by factors similar in attributes to their respective natures. For example, hot spicy food, anger, and strong summer sun increase pitta. Heavy, cold food, inactivity, and a cold, damp winter increase kapha. Dry, light food, overwork, and autumn winds increase vata. Ayurveda provides us with the appropriate knowledge to modify our activities, lifestyle, and diet according to our constitution.

Imbalance of the doshas is the cause of all diseases. This imbalanced state in the individual is known as vikriti. Ayurveda's therapies always aim at alleviating the aggravated doshas in order to restore balance. This is the strength of Ayurveda as it addresses the root cause of the disease rather than simply treating the symptoms.

The doshas relate to the physical body, whereas knowledge of the psychological constitution can be obtained through the three qualities (gunas) - sattva (harmony, purity), rajas (agitation, vitality), and tamas (darkness, ignorance). These qualities are inherent in all aspects of our lives. Many of us are a combination of the three and this may fluctuate at different stages of our lives. Pressures of modern life make it difficult to incorporate ideal Sattvic qualities into our lives; but over time, and regardless of physical constitution, if we make efforts to modify our lives appropriately—we will surely experience long-term enhancement of health, happiness and contentment.

Ayurveda is a science that teaches you to live in a natural balance. According to Ayurveda, each one of us is a combination of body, mind, senses, and soul. We rarely pay attention to our mind or soul, even though they are largely responsible for our health. Our lifestyle and diet, which we think provide happiness and pleasure, may not really be healthy for our mind and soul. That is why, even after achieving material comfort and obtaining good physical health, we are often still not contented. Fruitlessly, we strive even harder to achieve more physical comforts, and are confused when this does not create a sense of satisfaction. In the process, we over-stimulate and disturb our senses, creating physical and psychological imbalances.

Anyways, Ayurveda describes diet and hygiene, as well as lifestyle, conduct, and attitude that can bring total health. It is essential to understand both the needs of your mind and soul when attempting to obtain complete health, as they are equal partners with your body in determining your welfare. A wise understanding of these aspects can bring happiness and peace. Material things may give temporary happiness to your body or to your mind, but they do not meet the needs of your soul. That may be one of the reasons why there is so much suffering and anguish today, despite the wealth available for material goods and physical pleasure. Diet (food for the body) is only one factor in maintaining health. Spirituality (food for the soul) and mental harmony are equally important.

Ayurveda is the only medical science to have defined “health”. In the Ayurvedic sense, health is not merely being free of physical pain or the symptoms of disease. The mind is a very important consideration in the overall assessment of health. A person can only be said to be healthy when the mind is clear, calm, and contented (balanced), complementing a balanced body. In many cases, people may not have any physical problems or symptoms of illness, but they are very unhappy or agitated at the psychological level. According to Ayurveda, such people are not healthy. Thousands of people are in this category. They may be disturbed, depressed, irritable, and insecure, suffer from insomnia due to stress, or feel generally unfulfilled and aimless. These types of conditions mainly originate in an unbalanced mind. Ayurveda propounds the principle of natural balance within the body, and harmony with the environment. We are an integral part of our habitat. Living in harmony with our habitat and nature according to natural principles ensures complete physical health and peace of mind.

Our modern lifestyles are often detrimental to our health as well as the environment. Many of us don’t have time to prepare breakfast, eat a fast food lunch at our desk, and a pre-prepared dinner in front of the television. Coffee keeps us alert, alcohol “relaxes” us and drugs treat our ailments. When the weekend arrives we are so exhausted that we often don’t even have time to really enjoy it! Then it is Monday again and we are back in the race of trying to make enough money to buy processed food, gadgets to save us time, and amusements to distract us from the monotony of our lives. In our efforts to seek pleasure we are working hard to achieve personal suffering and poor health.

So why are people in modern times, with all the conveniences of technology to make life easier, finding that life has lost all natural joy? It is because we have lost contact with nature; we are often brought up without a basic education of how the body functions, what is beneficial and detrimental from both the physical and psychological perspectives, how to prevent illness, and how to achieve peace and happiness.

Living naturally according to some simple principles can prevent the need for expensive medical treatment or suffering needlessly from debilitating conditions. Learning to listen to your body and read the signals of distress can help you maintain health, making you more productive in your life as well as contented. Maintaining your health is based on nothing more complex than understanding the characteristics of your body and qualities of the food you eat. Many of the remedies for common ailments can be simply and quickly prepared in your own kitchen with widely available herbs.

Ayurveda is the instruction manual for the natural living of human beings. Understanding this philosophy of life enables you to become your own “healer”. You learn about your body, how it functions, and how to treat it through diet and herbal remedies. In fact, you also become your own dietician, personal trainer, counselor or psychologist, stylist, and beautician!

In Ayurveda, food (ahaara) is the prime preventive medicine. Proper diet and eating habits are considered the source of both physical and mental health. You can not only maximize your health through the application of dietary guidelines, but also treat sickness. Once you understand the properties of various foods and herbs, you can apply these principles to your daily diet as well as on those occasions when you feel unwell. There are dozens of remedies that can be prepared easily in your own home using common foods and herbs. At home, the pharmacy is really no further than the kitchen cupboard or the refrigerator.

The lifestyle routine proposed in Ayurveda is based on balance in all things. Eating, sleeping, and sex are undertaken within natural limits; and working, socializing, exercising, and relaxation are engaged in with a balanced attitude. No one activity should be engaged in excessively and one area of life should not be sacrificed for another. Moderation is the key to health and happiness.

Applied Ayurveda is based on the theory of six-dimensional being which includes all the aspects of existence – those are interrelated, interconnected and interdependent. Applied Ayurveda, however promotes and stands for the six-dimensional equilibrium of doshas and gunas to maintain, establish, restore and support good health as well as the wellbeing of human body – mind and ‘the cause of being’ called ‘soul’ which radiates cosmic energy (the universal life-force) as per the law of fundamental constitution or prakriti.

Research Institute of Applied Ayurveda is an internationally renowned virtual organization founded by Das, Dr. Suman to promote Applied Ayurveda for a better tomorrow for all without any discrimination of age, religion, caste and/or language. Research Institute of Applied Ayurveda is mainly involved in alternative health research projects including consultation, promotion, production and trading of Applied Ayurvedic as well as Organic - Natural - Herbal products and services worldwide.
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