Body and Mind in Ayurveda

In Ayurveda there are detailed explanations of the importance of the relationship between body (śarīra) and mind (manas) in maintaining health and in the treatment of disease. In various illnesses, the mind is the primary cause, which sometimes goes unnoticed. In the treatment of such cases we must therefore start with measures that help to restore the balance of body and mind in order to live a healthier and happier life.

svāsthasya svāsthya rakṣaṇam, āturasya vikāra praśamanam ca ||
Caraka Saṃhita

This sloka from the Caraka Samhita, textbook of Ayurveda, says that the main focus of Ayurveda is to maintain health and to heal illness or to calm imbalances.

This means that Ayurveda does not only want to heal diseases, but also to promote health (mentally and physically) and prevent diseases through a healthy diet and lifestyle. Prevention is therefore of great importance.

Ayurveda is a combination of experience and philosophy that focuses on the importance of human health and illness in physical, mental, emotional and spiritual terms.