Ayurveda is a term which is originated in ancient india. Ayur stands for life and Veda stands for knowledge so we can say that the knowledge of human life and health which is popularly known as Ayurveda is being excepted and applied by almost many of the people in every part of the world.
The Ayurveda was first recorded in Veda namely Atharvaveda in Sanskrit language around 1200 years ago and it is still in use today. The east and the west origin was greatly influenced by the practices of Ayurveda. By 400 AD Ayurvedic works were translated into Chinese; by 700 AD Chinese scholars were studying medicine in India at Nalanda University. In the 6th century BC the art of Ayurveda was spread to Tibet, china, Mongolia, srilanka, Korea by the Buddhist monk travelling to those lands.
The sankhaya’s philosophy of creation and manifestation has greater influence on Ayurveda which says that behind all creation there is a state of pure existence or awareness, which is out of time & space, no beginning & ends.
According to Ayurveda there are three physical energies namely Vatta, pitta, kapha & three mental energies – satwa, rajas, tamas and so for the vital balance of all these energies Ayurveda works efficiently.
Substances used for the treatment in Ayurveda are mostly those materials which are naturally available. Plant based treatment may be derived from roots, leaves, fruits, barks or seeds such as cardamom and cinnamon. Animal products used in Ayurveda includes milk, bones and gallstones.
A survey says that currently in india about 80% of people uses traditional medicines one of which form is Ayurveda. About 75%-80% of the population in Nepal uses Ayurveda. The srilankan tradition of Ayurveda is almost similar to the Indian tradition of Ayurveda. Ayurveda is practiced in almost every part of the country.
INDIA: In india research in Ayurveda is undertaken by the ministry of AYUSH namely Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, through a national network of research institutes.
NEPAL: In Nepal it is undertaken by NATRC abbreviation for the national ayurvedic training and research center.
SRILANKA: In Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine looks after the research in Ayurveda through various national research institutes.
Hence, Ayurveda provides with a unique combination of science and philosophy that perfectly balances the components like physical, mental, spiritual, emotional in a proper proportion for the proper functioning of our body and provides us with holistic health.