In Sanskrit, Ayur means life and Veda means science; Ayurveda, then, literary mean life-science.

Definition: Ayurveda is an Eastern holistic system of medicine that uses what nature provides from the good earth to good use, reversing effects of modern living and the resulting toxins from our bodies. Through the course of time, Ayurveda became the science of life. It has its root in ancient Vedic literature and encompasses our entire life; the body, mind and spirit.

Foundation: Ayurveda is a complex system of healing that originated in Asia thousands of years ago. We can find historical evidence of Ayurveda in the ancient books of wisdom known as the Vedas. In the Rig Veda for example, over 60 preparations that can be used to overcome various ailments are revealed. The Rig Veda was written over 6,000 years ago, but Ayurveda has been around even longer. What we find is that Ayurveda is more than just a medical system; it is the science of life. Just as animals and plants live in harmony with nature and use the laws of natural world to create health and balance within their environment, humans, too, can adhere to these same principles, along with comforts made possible with modern science. Consequently, Ayurveda is a system that aids health in a person by using the natural principles of nature to return humans into balance with their true self. In reality, Ayurveda has been since Adam, because man has always been governed by nature's laws.

Mind, Body and Senses: Humans tend to identify most with their physical bodies; yet there is more to us then what meets the eye. We can see that our primary physical structure is the brain, which along with our thought process, controls such tasks as respiration, circulation, digestion and purgation. The mind and the body work in union with one another to normalize our physiology; in order for the brain to act correctly to aid the physical body, the body must use the brain as information gatherer.

Doctrine: Ayurveda views a human as a unique individual made up of five primary elements; space, air, fire, water and earth. When any of these elements are present in our environment, they will have a sway over us. While we are a combination of these five primary elements, certain elements have the ability to combine and create various physiological functions. Space and air combine to form the Ayurvedic term Vata dosha. Vata rules the principle of movement and is seen as the force which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration, and purgation. Fire and water are elements that combine to form Pitta dosha. Pitta dosha is the route of change or metabolism. The change of foods into nutrients that our bodies can digest is an example of a pitta function. Pitta is also in charge for metabolism in the organ and tissue structure as well as cellular metabolism. Lastly, it is largely the water and earth elements that combine to form the Kapha dosha. Kapha is in charge of growth, adding structure one at a time. Another function of the Kapha dosha is protection. For example, cerebral spinal fluid protects the brain and spinal column and is a type of Kapha. Another example of Kapha dosha is the mucosal lining of the stomach, protecting the tissues. All humans are made up of unique proportions of Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The ratios of the doshas vary by individual; and because of this, Ayurveda sees each person as a special combination that accounts for human diversity.

Ayurveda, then, is a mix of these combinations and addresses the health challenges when any of the doshas (Vata, Pitta or Kapha) cease to be in proper ratios.

Conclusion: Our products at Positive Trends Inc. have all developed along the Ayurveda concept of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, making sure that the body is given (or taken away) enough so the all the elements are at once in tune and synchronized for the optimal results from nature.