Ayurveda
SAVA Herbals is devoted to the research, manufacture and marketing of quality natural ingredients derived from traditional Indian medicine. We strongly believe that technology is the way to reinvent the immense knowledge base of traditional medicine resulting in quality ingredients that add to taste and health needs.
Ayurveda is an ancient system of holistic health care. Its name is derived from two words, Ayu meaning “life” and Veda meaning “science”. Together they translate as “the science of life”. Conservative estimates place the origins of Ayurveda at 5,000 years ago in the Himalayan mountains. Comprehensive Ayurvedic medical texts estimated to be 3,000 years old include information on advanced surgical techniques, obstetrics, geriatrics, and the use of herbs. This makes Ayurveda the most enduring healing modality available in the world today.
The exact origins of Ayurveda are lost in antiquity. According to the ancient text, Charaka-samhita, this “Science of Life” is revealed in each universe in each of its infinite cycles of creation and destruction. This traditional healing science was first revealed by great sages and demigods. The Vedic literature of ancient India records the rare appearance of Lord Dhanvantari, the original teacher of Ayurveda, who returns to re-inaugurate the tradition.
Traditional systems of Indian medicine such as Ayurveda promote the art of healthy living by applying self-knowledge and self-care. Inherent in Ayurvedic principles is the concept that one is capable of taking charge of life and healing through proximity to nature. SAVA Herbals has established a wide network of access to sources of traditional Indian medicine which are used as a basis for the discovery and development of novel health ingredients.
Philosophy
Ayurveda is a science dealing not only with the treatment of particular diseases but offers a complete way of life. This becomes clear when we see the meaning of life in Ayurvedic science. As mentioned above, Ayurveda is a science of life so to know more about it we must know what “life” is. According to Ayurveda, Life is a combination of senses, mind, body, and soul. Ayurveda is not limited to the physical body and its symptoms. It also gives a comprehensive knowledge about spiritual, mental and social health.
Balance Within—Creating a Healthy Self
According to Ayurveda, health is the state of balance and disease is the state of imbalance. The aim of Ayurveda is to create complete health — not just eliminate physical diseases. Ayurveda teaches that in order to become completely healthy one must know each and every part of one’s self.
For example, a western doctor may give you aspirin for a headache, but a healer skilled in Ayurveda (maybe a doctor, maybe a grandmother), would offer physical, emotional, and spiritual advice.
“There is excessive heat in your liver because you are angry at your partner. This heat rises to your head and causes inflammation and pain, your headache. So,
- Drop your expectations of your partner and nurture your self-awareness;
- Open up and express how you feel about the problem and see if it is real;
- Cool and cleanse your liver with Gotu Kola, pranayama breathing exercises, and walking in nature”.
This simplified example is a window into the vastness of Ayurveda. It is so vast that it is thought to take lifetimes to master. It also offers simple key principles for creating compassion and balance for individuals and society.
Balance Without—Creating a Healthy Society
Ayurveda aims to foster a happy, healthy and peaceful society. Modern society, education, and culture is chiefly materialistic. If material riches are “everything”, why is it that so many of us are unhappy? The world is filled with unrest, anxiety, mental tension, fighting and terror, despite our best efforts to change. Ayurvedic science teaches that this is because our Body is not being properly nourished. Simply put, Ayurveda teaches that there has to be a proper balance between materialism and spiritualism.
Science
The world today, has acknowledged Ayurveda as a holistic system of herbal healing. During the last few decades, there has been a global ‘back to nature’ trend. Herbalism and ‘total wellness’ concept has become increasingly popular with greater emphasis on mental and physical well being. Today the world has naturally accepted Indian disciplines of yoga, meditation and Ayurveda. The increasing interest in Indian herbs and Ayurveda has prompted many scientific and research studies. This Indian system of medicine is reforming itself in sync with the modern science.
In India, 70% of the formal medicine is still based on Ayurveda and it currently serves over 600 million people. Many of the traditional Ayurvedic uses of herbs have been validated by modern clinical studies conducted around the world.
Dosha theory
When all three doshas (bioenergy) and agni (metabolic process) are in balance, and excretions are in proper order, when atman (soul), senses, manah (intellect) are in harmony with internal peace, the svastha (optimal health) is achieved.
The following is a short description of the Doshas to help you determine which Dosha your constitution or an imbalance is so you can decide exactly which remedy is right for you.
The Vata Dosha
- Symbol: Air
- Principle: Movement, transport and kinetic energy in the body-mind.
- Essence: Prana, the Life Force.
- Body Type: Small body frames, average amount of hair which tends to be dry and light brown, dry or rough skin, small eyes.
- Mental Picture: Short-term memory is best, changing moods and thoughts.
- Vata in Balance: Alert and spontaneous
- Vata out of Balance: Worried, mood swings.
- Key words: Light, cold, dry, fast, quick, changing, movement, restlessness.
- Herbs and Extracts: Triphala, Gotu Kola, Ashwagandha, Poshkarmool.
The Pitta Dosha
- Symbol: Fire
- Principle: Transformation, metabolism, and discrimination in the body-mind.
- Essence: Tejas, Inner Light and Radiance.
- Body Type: Medium-size body frames, average amount of hair that tends to be reddish or gray and thinning, soft, slightly oily skin and medium size eyes.
- Mental Picture: Good memory, sharp intellects, sound sleepers, quick tempers.
- Pitta in Balance: Enterprising and joyous.
- Pitta out of Balance: Angry, impatient, frustrated.
- Key words: Hot, fiery, perceptive, and intense.
- Herbs and Extracts: Triphala, Bahera, Harad, Kalmegh, Gotu Kola
The Kapha Dosha
- Symbol: Water.
- Principle: Integration, lubrication, potential energy and stability in the body-mind.
- Essence: Ojas, Primal Vitality.
- Body Type: Large body frames and thick, dark brown or black hair which tends toward oiliness. Oily, moist skin and large eyes.
- Mental Picture: Calm, steady and stable, good long-term memory, heavy sleepers, slow to be irritated.
- Kapha in Balance: Strong and calm.
- Kapha out of Balance: Dull and lethargic.
- Key words: Slow, steady, solid, heavy, accumulation, and regularity.
- Herbs and Extracts: Triphala, Turmeric, Salai, Guggul
