Medicine — you believe — is a baffling thing. There are always new treatments to discover, new procedures to try. Modern standards are fickle, wanting forever to find better answers and stronger possibilities; and keeping pace with such things is impossible.
And that is why you draw comfort from traditional methods — which always remain the same and can be understood for their intentions simply by examining their histories. Ayurveda is no different.
Established in 1500 BC, Ayurveda’s origins can be traced to the Vedas (one of the Hindu religion’s oldest texts, containing a collection of Indian laws and practices). In this book the elements of medicine were defined — with a metaphysical standard created, utilizing earth, water, fire, air and ether. These were said to be the foundations of the universe and had to be balanced therefore to ensure harmony, even in the human body.
The intention of Ayurveda was (and is) to seek ways to cure illnesses by appeasing these elements. And accomplishing that required understanding which one was suffering. Examining symptoms was therefore necessary: diseases that affected the lungs or breathing were deemed Vata and reflected air and ether; illnesses that caused bile and blood were named Pittar and emphasized fire and water; and all ailments forcing phlegm were called Kapha and were ruled by earth.
Through these distinctions treatments were formed — with the universe addressed and balance sought. Patients were to be healed physically as well as spiritually; and the result was Ayurveda’s endurance within Indian culture. It remains used even today and its practices have been claimed even by some Western cultures (with the all elements adopted as humors and examined carefully).