Vaidya Dori Ahern, with thanks to Swami Sada Shiva Tirtha:
AYURVEDA AND LONGEVITY
The literal translation of Ayurveda is the Science of Life or Longevity. It is the oldest healing tradition originating in India over 5000 years ago. The first science discovered is the last to be recovered, it seems. In the 1990's Deepak Chopra brought Ayur
veda to the attention of the world, under the tutelage of my first teacher, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation, taught to him by his guru Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, was prescribed by doctors, judges and teachers for maximum success in all fields of life beginning in the 1950's and exploding into the mainstream in the 70's 80's and 90's. Although it now has been co-opted in the west by the "New Age Industrial Complex" it has achieved its recognition by proving to be simple, gentle and effective, rather than a superficial fad. I often hear people complain that they don't know what to believe for there are so many conflicting theories about health care, diet, supplements, etc., I felt a similar confusion, until I discovered and understood the foundations of Ayurveda, the same now as they were 1000s of years ago in Mother India. I now view all "new" discoveries in health by her standards, and Ayurveda never fails me. There is a real quality to longevity. It is not a question of vanity, because youthfulness is rooted in health and balance. With all the cosmetics and beautiful clothes, if health is not there under the surface, neither is longevity. Ayurveda promotes longevity in three ways; thru physical, mental and spiritual lifestyle changes.
1. Right foods and herbs nourish the body and enhance digestion to balance, detoxify and rebuild cells and tissues.
2. Brain herbs, calming aromas, and colors bring peace and longevity to the mind and to the brain's cells and tissues. An understanding that aging is not the only possible fate for a human being, changes the cellular programing on the deep subconscious level, which effects our subjective experience.
3. A quality lifestyle including adequate rest, massage, meditation and ethical living create a framework for longevity to develop in. Since the early 60's those following vegetarian holistic diets learned of the virtues of fresh, organic detoxifying diets. People with severe diseases like cancer, found relief from detoxifying programs like Macrobiotics and raw food diets. At that time, it seemed to be what was needed and many people benefited greatly from these holistic food plans. However, over the years, once the toxins were expelled, a continuous detoxification diet began to eat away at the healthy cells and tissues, since there were no toxins for it to destroy. The result was the stereotypical vegetarian, living on " rabbit food", becoming weak and emaciated. There was no knowledge of rejuvenation or longevity methods. Ayurveda has provided the missing link to the holistic health field. It not only offers detoxifying measures, but toning and rebuilding therapies as well. The idea is to first detoxify, to cleanse the body and mind, and then to nurture the healthy cells and tissue into a state of strength and resiliency. The secrets of Ayurvedic longevity differ according to the three different constitutions or body/mind types of people. The three doshas, the three main delineations of body type, are based on the tendency of people to have a predominance of air fire or water or some combination thereof. To determine one's dosha, a simple guide is as follows:
Vayu (AIR) doshas tend towards as excess of air element. Traits include anxiety, worry, fear (mental) and thin frame, arthritis, dry skin, gas or constipation (physical). Pitta (FIRE) doshas may have a hot temper or impatience (mental) and skin problems, infections, heart or blood problems, liver, spleen or gall bladder disorders, and ulcers (physical). Kapha (WATER) doshas tend towards lethargy, slowness or calmness(mental) and congestion, bronchitis, weight gain and edema (physical). Many people have dual doshas, a combination of VATA/PITTA (AIR/FIRE), PITTA/KAPHA (FIRE/WATER) OR VATA/KAPHA (AIR/WATER) or all three doshas, (TRIDOSHA)
Further, some people have one primary mental dosha and another primary physical dosha. PITTA mind and KAPHA body). The VAIDYA (one who knows Ayurveda) will balance the doshas by using foods, herbs and lifestyle changes that will lower the troublesome dosha and raise the underactive doshas to create health.
