Ayurveda Apothecary

General information

Ayurveda, the comprehensive science of wellbeing.

What is Ayurveda?
Directly translated means 'The Science of Life'. It's one of the oldest forms of healing the world has known with its origins dating back seven thousand years, yet it is still relatively unknown in the UK. Ayurveda is a system of medicine and a philosophy for living in harmony with nature. It is one of India's most profound health practices and is as important today here in the UK as it is in its country of origin. In fact there are many critical elements that make Ayurveda more relevant to Western society at this point in time than ever before.

Why?
In this technological age we see increasing evidence of downsizing and restructuring in industry, rising stress levels on workers who take on the jobs of three people, the speed of today's society seems to have increased whilst our transport systems have slowed down, national health waiting lists create anxiety in the sick - the list goes on and on. These stresses and distractions have made us lose touch with the most important aspects of life. In the steady acceleration of our ways of living we have forgotten how to be aware, how to respond with intuition to our surroundings and how to take care of ourselves. We have lost touch with the natural rhythms and cycles of nature and with the creative act of living in harmony with these elements.
Even our cities, crowded and polluted as they are, have, through their own natural surroundings, systems for cleansing and spiritual renewal. Rivers, sea and wind continually refresh our urban environments. This concept of balancing factors, of the potential for renewal informs Ayurvedic teachings in a profound way.

How does Ayurveda help us to achieve health?
Ayurveda is a science of preventative health and healing and a philosophy for living. Ayurveda cures not by treating the symptoms but by removing the cause of disease and by balancing the physical and spiritual elements of our lives. The principle is one of balance as an individual, as one whose emotional life, whose intake of food, whose output of energy and whose attention to the daily act of living is also extended to take in the wider concept of a balanced universe.

What is it like to live an Ayurvedic lifestyle?
Ayurveda traces the roots of our illness to our responses to encounters in our lives. Achieving physical and spiritual health are prime goals for which Ayurveda provides specific Sadhanas - sacred everyday practices that develop our awareness and capacity for living in harmony with Self and Nature.

So how do we go about developing this awareness?
We can begin by working on our senses of touch, hearing, sight, taste and smell and upon our sense of spirituality. We can first of all notice the silences that we usually ignore. we might have to work hard on this, but they are there; we can listen to the crackle and rustle of food as we work with it; we can look at its coloured texture; we can stop and smell the spices and herbs that we use; we can slow down the way we receive and eat our food and savour every bite; we can notice when we get goose-bumps at the sound of certain music; we can ensure that enough hugs are given, especially to ourselves; we can see, smell and touch the petals and leaves; we can pay attention to natural elements, sight and colours; we can touch our partners, children, pets and ourselves with greater care and awareness; we can ensure that we see more of the natural world.

Ayurveda draws our attention to all aspects of daily living, helping us to live a more balanced and stress free life.