Basics of Health

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Physical and mental health and social well-being are the three important pillars of a healthy human being. The successful performance of all three, results in productive activities.

That is apart from fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity. From early childhood until late life, they form the springboard of thinking and communication skills, learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self esteem according to the conventional definition of health.

Ayurveda describes health as the basis to enable us to carry out the four basic goals of human life, which are: dharma; virtue, spiritual duty artha; economic development, kama; regulated sense enjoyment, and moksha; liberation.

According to Ayurveda, health is a state of total balance between the body, mind, senses and the soul. In the modern medical system only the body is focused on whilst the mind, senses and soul are neglected. Any infirmity at these levels must also be recognized as an illness.

People in poorer countries often suffer more from physical problems. These problems relate to the body only, caused by lack of proper nutrition and/or unhygienic living conditions. In rich and advanced countries, people are plagued by psychological illnesses despite the fact they have everything at their disposal: nice houses, clean surroundings, the latest technology and nutritious food. We can say they have taken care of artha, but have a problem with either dharma, kama and eventual moksha.

It is this concept that Ayurbasics deals with. Ayurveda, is the only system of medicine that helps to achieve the perfect health of the body, mind, senses and the soul.