阿育吠陀概覽（二）阿育吠陀的過去與現在 Overview of Ayurveda — 2 The past and present of Ayurveda

阿育吠陀已經在我們的生活中

Ayurveda is already there in our lives

聽到阿育吠陀這個詞，難免因為印度原文音譯，覺得奇怪，如果已經瀏覽過前一篇文章阿育吠陀概覽（一）什麼是阿育吠陀？會有初步的認識，其實阿育吠陀對於東方的中醫草藥學有深遠的影響，中醫裡面對於植物或人體有寒涼和燥熱屬性差異的概念，與阿育吠陀將植物、食材和藥草分類成火型、風型和土型有類似的架構。此外阿育吠陀也經由古代貿易路線、絲路與戰爭等，影響了古埃及人、希臘人羅馬人等，在歷史上；改善了世界的醫療體系。

阿育吠陀醫學不只是一門醫療體系，基本概念認為心和身是同時影響健康的，從近代才產生的心理學來做標準，五千年前就有這樣的概念是非常先進的，阿育吠陀的目的是用方法使人身心達到平衡後；讓人可以有健康的生活方式。

It is inevitable strange that the word Ayurveda when people heard it due to the transliteration from the original Indian text. If you have already read the previous article, Ayurveda overview (1) What is Ayurveda? There will be a preliminary understanding. In fact, Ayurveda has a profound influence on Chinese herbal medicine in the East. The concept of the difference between cold and warm characters in plants or humans in Chinese medicine which is similar to the Ayurvedic way of classifying plants, ingredients and herbs into Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. In addition, Ayurveda also influenced ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, etc. through ancient trade routes, Silk Road and war, and improved the world’s medical system in history.

Ayurvedic medicine is not just a medical system. The basic concept is that psychological status and the physical body affect health together. If we have a look of this mind and body balance idea by a standard of modern psychology research which is discovered in a century mostly. The concept was very advanced five thousand years ago. The purpose of Ayurveda is to balance people’s mind and body by suggested method; that to help people have a healthy lifestyle.

5000年的智慧

5000 years’ wisdom

阿育吠陀被口頭傳承了幾代，直到它最初記錄在古印度吠陀或“智慧書”中（印度文Veda是知識或智慧的意思，中文也翻譯為吠陀），吠陀被認為是人類歷史上最古老以書面記載的知識，出現在在公元前1700至1000年之間，吠陀像是一系列綜合百科，每一種吠陀記錄著不同的科學，內容從哲學、工程學、政治學到醫學等，也講述了人、神與宇宙的關係，阿育吠陀是其中的一門吠陀。

Ayurveda has been inherited for generations by verbal talks until it was originally recorded in the ancient Indian Vedic or “Wisdom Book” (Indian Veda is the meaning of knowledge or wisdom, Chinese is also translated as Vedas), and the Vedas are the oldest science book in human history. The oldest written documentary knowledge appeared between 1700 and 1000 BC. The Vedic is like a series of encyclopedias. Each Veda records different sciences, from philosophy, engineering, political science, to medicine, etc., which also tells about the relationship between people, God and the universe. Ayurveda is one of the Veda.

英國殖民時期的限制與被保留下來的生命知識

British colonial restrictions and preserved life knowledge

在英國統治印度期間，阿育吠陀被政府認為是一種古老的習俗，不被允許。西方醫學被傳入印度，阿育吠陀輾轉進入地下，阿育吠陀以家庭療法及廚房食譜的方式被保留，存在於大部分家庭中；阿育吠陀成為一種“廚房醫學”，印度人在生活中融入食物，香料，油和草藥的療效，像是胡椒可以健胃、頭皮不舒服可以用油按摩或辣的食物可以幫助排水代謝等，就像是東亞人的我們認為，冬天要吃姜母鴨、麻油雞可以進補一樣，我們並不會直接與中醫聯想在一起，香料、食材和油的應用，已經是生活的一部分。

另外印度南部的喀拉拉邦（Kerala)；殖民期間因為地理位置的天然屏障，保留了較傳統的阿育吠陀，這裡現今有許多阿育吠陀中心和機構，每年吸引百萬人到印度朝聖與進行療程。

這個產業因為是古代流傳下來的知識，少經現代化科學技術驗證或改良生產技術，相關的資料不足；沒有品質驗證系統等問題仍然存在，在購買產品或前往印度進行療程體驗時，建議要謹慎選擇。

阿育吠陀正在被復興，印度莫迪政府（Narendra Modi government）上台後不久，於2014年11月9日成立Ministry of AYUSH(Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy 簡稱AYUSH)，專責阿育吠陀、瑜珈和自然療法、尤那尼(Unani)、悉達(Siddha)和順勢療法(Homoeopathy)的研究和教育。

During the British rule of India, Ayurveda was considered to be an ancient practice and was forbidden by the government. Western medicine was introduced to India at the same time, Ayurveda turned underground knowledge. Ayurveda was preserved in the form of family therapy and kitchen recipes and existed in most families; Ayurveda became a kind of “kitchen medicine.” Indians incorporating the effects of food, spices, oils and herbs, such as pepper can bring the strength to the stomach, oil massage or spicy food can help with metabolism, just like East Asians, we believe that ginger ducks dish should be eaten in winter. The sesame oil chicken can be supplemented. We don’t think it directly with Chinese medicine, but the application of spices, ingredients and oil is already part of life.

Kerala in southern India preserved the more traditional Ayurveda; dut to its natural barrier of geographical location during the colonial period. There are many Ayurvedic centers and institutions here, attracting millions of people to India every year to take courses of treatments.

Because this industry is a knowledge that has been handed down in ancient times, it has not been verified by modern science and technology or uses improved production technology. The relevant information is insufficient. There are still problems such as no quality verification system. It is recommended to choose carefully when purchasing products or going to India for treatment experience.

Ayurveda is being revived. Shortly after the Narendra Modi government took office, the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) was established on November 9, 2014, in order to work on research and education in Ayurveda, yoga and natural remedies, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.

幾千年來沒有變的是人一樣會生病，我們仍然在找合適的方法使我們更健康。我自己誤打誤撞認識了阿育吠陀，發現了一些有幫助的概念在其中，希望阿育吠陀能為大家帶來更良好的生活平衡。

What hasn’t changed for thousands of years is that people will get sick, and we are still looking for the right way to make us healthier. I met Ayurveda by luck and found some helpful concepts in it. Wish Ayurveda can bring a better balance of life for people who need it.