Ayurveda facts for kids

Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine from Ancient India. The word "Ayurveda" comes from two Sanskrit words: ayur, meaning life, and veda, meaning knowledge. So, Ayurveda is like the "knowledge of life." It helps people understand how to stay healthy, live well every day, and have a long life.

This traditional medical system is based on many years of experience and observation. It is more than 3,000 years old! According to old stories, a physician named Dhanvantari was the first to use Ayurveda. Today, Ayurveda is still used in India. It has also spread to other countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Many people around the world use Ayurveda to improve their health.

Your Body's Elements and Energies

In Ayurveda, people believe that each person is unique. We are all made up of five main elements found in nature. These elements are ether (space), air, fire, water, and earth. Just like in nature, these elements are inside us too. When these elements are around us, they can affect us. For example, the foods we eat or the weather can influence our body's balance.

While we have all five elements, some combine to create special energies called doshas. There are three main doshas:

• Vata dosha: This dosha is formed by ether and air. Vata controls movement in your body. It helps with things like nerve signals, blood flow, breathing, and getting rid of waste.
• Pitta dosha: Fire and water combine to form Pitta. This dosha is about transformation and metabolism. It helps your body turn food into energy and nutrients. Pitta also manages how your organs and cells work.
• Kapha dosha: Water and earth are the main elements that create Kapha. This dosha is responsible for growth and giving your body structure. It also helps protect your body. For example, the fluid around your brain and spinal cord is a type of Kapha. The lining of your stomach that protects it is also Kapha.

Everyone has a special mix of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These amounts are different for each person. This is why Ayurveda sees every person as unique.

Staying Balanced with Ayurveda

Ayurveda helps us understand each person's unique mix of the three doshas. This allows for special health plans for each person. If one of your doshas (Vata, Pitta, or Kapha) becomes too high, Ayurveda suggests ways to bring it back into balance. This might include changes to your daily habits or what you eat.

Sometimes, herbal supplements are also suggested to help the healing process. If your body has too many toxins, a special cleansing process called Pancha Karma might be recommended. This helps remove unwanted toxins from your body.

Images for kids

• 

  Nagarjuna, known for the Madhyamaka (middle path), wrote the medical works The Hundred Prescriptions and The Precious Collection.

• 

  Physician taking pulse, Delhi, c. 1825

• 

  An Ayurvedic practitioner applying oil using head massage

• 

  Ayurvedic preparations displayed in Dehli in 2016

• 

  Tulsi-flower (holy basil), an Ayurvedic herb

• 

  Ayurvedic treatment set up used for applying oil to patients, Kerala, 2017

• 

  A typical Ayurvedic pharmacy, Rishikesh

• 

  Practitioners in 2017 in Sri Lanka where Ayurveda spas are common.

See also

In Spanish: Ayurveda para niños