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Sri Lankan Ayurvedic tradition is a
mixture of Ayurveda systems of North Indian origin, the
Siddha system from South India, Unani system of medicine
from the Arabs, and most importantly the Desheeya Chikitsa
which is the Indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka
also claims to be the first country to have established
dedicated Ayurvedic hospitals in world history, Mihintale
still has the ruins of what is believed to be the first ever
Ayurvedic hospital in the world.
Ayurveda emphasizes prevention and encourages maintaining
good health through close attention to the balance in one's
life. Patients must learn to make life style changes to
bring about and maintain this balance.
Ayurvedic medicine is based on the system of prevention.
Often times the patient is treated before actual symptoms of
disease appear.
The philosophy of Ayurveda states that it is centered on
five elements that are the foundation of the system: ether,
earth, air, fire, and water. They act with other elements to
influence the human body. A combination of these elements is
called doshas. The body is made up of different proportions
of the three types of energy or doshas. The doshas have to
be in balance to maintain good health.
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