Ayurveda describes the beneficial, nonbeneficial, happy and unhappy aspects of life
Ayurveda describes the beneficial, nonbeneficial, happy and unhappy aspects of life. Health is defined as the state of equilibrium of dosha (humours), agni (digestive juices, enzymes and hormones), dhatu (tissues) and the normal excretion of mala (waste materials), along with a happy state of atma (soul), indriya (sensory and motor organs), and manas (mind). Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word derived from ayuh (life) and veda (knowledge), and is also known as the “science of life”. Rigveda (2000 BC) is the oldest recorded document regarding use of plants as medicine in India, and this tradition continued in another ancient text, Atharvaveda (1500-1000 BC), which described more plants and introduced basic concepts. In 1000 BC, Punarvasu Atreya (head of the school of medicine) and Divodas Dhanvantari (head of the school of surgery) imparted knowledge and practical ...