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Based
on historical evidence Ayurveda has been practised
in Nepal since the beginning of time. The Himalaya
stand for purity, clarity and harmony, which is
the goal and aspiration of every living creature.
Nepal is one of the richest countries with diverse
flora ranging from tropical to alpine within a
small geographical area. Much of the flora is
used for medicinal purposes. Nepal has a great
tradition of Ayurveda, and it is considered to
be part of the cultural and scientific heritage
of the country.
Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that means the science
of life or a natural way of living . Ayurveda,
is thought of as a life science, and includes
yoga, meditation and the natural and spiritual
sciences. It looks at every person as a unique
individual, and seeks to understand and to correct
the imbalances and restore the innate intelligence
and harmony of the person.
The objectives of Ayurveda are the development
of awareness which leads to a state of desirelessness;
the promotion of health and the achievement of
longevity; the prevention of disease; and the
curing of disease. The Ayurveda practitioner first
of all asks a series of questions to identify
the person s type, after which it is possible
to diagnose the problem, and suggest a series
of activities and practices together with ayurvedic
medicines. Neither stands alone, each patient
is treated in both
In order to understand Ayurveda in more depth,
it is possible to visit Nepal to be treated by
an Ayurveda practitioner, or to meet with practitioners
to understand the philosophy on a more intellectual
level. Excursions can be organised to visit practitioners,
to meet rural people collecting the herbs, and
to meet traditional healers such as Shamans and
Jhankris.
You could learn about the cultivation and harvesting
of the herbs, and the treatment and final production
of the herbal medicines. In Nepal there are libraries
with manuscripts of herbal remedies and historical
facts about Ayurveda, as well as a herbal specimen
museum.
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