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ayurveda

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is an ancient Vedic system of health care. It is India's indigenous system of medicine, very special to Kerala.

Ayurveda is based on five elements that is earth, water, fire, air and ether. The central concept of Ayurveda is that health exists when there is the right balance between three fundamental bodily humours – the thridoshas vata, pitha and kapha.

Vata (wind) born of air and ether rules mental and physical movements and maintains their balance.

Pitha (bile) is born of fire and water. It rules heat and metabolism of mind and body.

Kapha (phlegm) is born of earth and water. It is responsible for the physical structure of body.

Any of these three humours predominate in every individual. Based on this, Ayurveda classifies people as 'Vata prakriti, Pitha prakriti or Kapha prakriti.

The method of Ayurvedic treatment is restoring the right balance of these elements and thus ensuring good health. Practices of Ayurveda includes healthy living along with therapeutic measures that relate to body, mind and spirit. (physical , mental and spiritual levels). It ensures durable health up to old age. It also takes care of post-convalescence rejuvenation with an increased zest for life.

The principles of Ayurvedic pharmacology are fundamentally different from those of other systems of medicine. Almost all Ayurvedic medicines are prepared from herbs.

 

Herbal medicine

Ayurvedic medicines are mostly prepared from herbs. Almost all plants seen around us have one or other medicinal value; but we ignore them as weeds and rubbish. Even many of the acclaimed medicinal herbs are found along the farmlands and surrounding groves. Some rare species grow only in the forests and mountain ranges; only herbal experts and traditional vaidyas know them and their applications.

Most of the vegetables we use daily also have medicinal values. Good cooking and eating habits alone can improve our health much.

Some of the herbal preparations are very simple, very low cost and highly effective. Ordinary herbs, vegetables and fruits are mixed and prepared in various forms as powder, potions, pastes and extracts. They have unimaginable power in healing ailments, boosting immunity and raising vitality. 

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Kerala: Tips for visitors - 2

Water
Eventhough tap water is purified, it is better to drink bottled drinking water or drinking water from houses/restaurants. It is not advisable to drink water from slow moving streams, lakes or dams. Mineral water is available in sealed bottles.

Temple codes
Footwear inside the temple and entry into the sanctum sanctorum is banned in all the temples.

Other customs and codes of conduct and dress in temples across the state vary from each other.

Some temples do not permit entry to non-Hindus, while some do. Shirts for men and pants are banned from some temples and allowed in some others. Where they are banned, men have to be in mundus and women, in saris, half-saris or long skirts.

Nudity
Nudity is not allowed in any Kerala beach.

Smoking
Smoking is banned in public places

Footwear in houses
Visitors to most Kerala houses leave their footwear outside before entering the house.

Ayurvedic treatment
If you wish to undergo Ayurvedic treatment, it is very important to ensure that you go to an authorised centre.

Demonstrativeness in public
Behaviour demonstrating affection in public like hugging or kissing is not an accepted practice in Kerala.

Wildlife sanctuaries
To visit a wildlife sanctuary, prior permission has to be taken from the concerned authority of the sanctuary. 

Kerala: Tips for visitors

Money
There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors can bring.

Banks
Banks are open for transaction on all days except Sundays and declared holidays.

Best time to visit
High season: October to April - Monsoon.
Rejuvenation programmes: May to September

Travel wear
Cotton outfits, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion etc.

Credit cards
Main hotels, restaurants and shopping centres honour major credit cards.

Currency
Indian Rupee (INR)

Drugs
Heavy punishments including imprisonment are imposed for possession of narcotic drugs.

Food
All standard restaurants offer a variety of cuisines including Continental, Chinese, Indian and typical Kerala fare.

Emergency numbers
Police control room: 100
Fire station: 101
Ambulance: 101

Time
(Hours fast (+), slow (-) on IST)
USA: -10.30, Germany: - 4.30, Canada: - 10.30, France: - 4.30, Australia: + 4.30, Spain: -4.30, UAE: - 1.30

Kerala: Quality of Life Indices

Educational Infrastructure
Lower Primary Schools (First - Fourth classes)	:	6712
Upper Primary Schools (Fifth - Seventh classes)	:	2951
High Schools (Eighth - Tenth classes)	:	2608
Total number of Schools	:	12271
Higher Education
Higher Education Universities	:	7
Arts and Science Colleges	:	286
Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI)
Kerala has had a commendable record in terms of the Physical Quality of Life Index. Indicators of PQLI like infant mortality (11%), female literacy (87.86%), and life expectancy at birth for males (68.23) and females (73.62), are well above all India levels. The major reason for this achievement is Kerala's focus on the service sector. About 37% of the total annual expenditure of the State is earmarked for health and education. Another reason for this is the existence of a larger network of hospital infrastructure under the Directorate of Health Services with 933 primary health centres and 5094 sub-centres
Health Care Infrastructure
Immunisation has been near total in the year 2002 - 03.
T.T for Pregnant Women	:	86.1%
T.T for 5 year old	:	89.2%
T.T for 10 year old	:	98.1%
T.T for 16 year old	;	95%
DPT	:	95.8%
BCG	:	103%
Polio	:	95.3%
Anti-measles	:	90.6%
Rate of Diseases per 1000 People -
Leprosy	:	0.66
Malaria	:	0.36
Filaria	:	1.28
Tuberculosis	:	0.70
Transport
Air: There are three international airports in the state. They are at Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Nedumbassery (Kochi) and operate international flights and domestic flights. Road and Rail : The state is well connected by rail and road.
Seaports	:	Major : Kochi Minor : Beypore (Kozhikode), Alappuzha, Kollam.
Major Beaches	:	Kovalam, Varkala, Fort Kochi, Kappad and Bekal.
Major Wild Life Sanctuaries	:	Thekkady (Periyar), Parambikkulam, Wayanad, Silent Valley, Aralm, Peechi-Vazhani, Chimani, Shenduruny, Idukki, Chinnar, Peppara, Neyyar.
Bird Sanctuary	:	Thattekad, Kumarakom.
Major Hill Stations	:	Ponmudi, Peerumade, Thekkady, Munnar and Wayanad.
Farm / Cash Crops	:	Rubber, Coffee, Tea, Spices, Pepper, Cashew, Coconut, Arecanut and rice.
Exports	:	Marine, Coir, Handicrafts, Spices, Food and other Products.
Major Industries	:	Tourism, Information Technology, Fertilizer, Oil Refining and Power Generation, Ship Building, Machine Tools, Electronics, Cables, Rubber.