Ayurveda
is as old as the world, with eternal relevance
Ayurveda
is a Sanskrit word, derived from two roots. Ayur which means life,
and Veda which means knowledge. Ayurveda means knowledge of the
whole life, which covers our body, mind and spirit. Though Ayurveda
has its roots in the ancient heritage, its relevance in this modern
age is unquestionable. It is a true medical science which depends
very little on technology but with a high scientific approach to
treatments. It is quite natural and has the least side effects. It
also purifies the body, mind and spirit. It is the science of life
contributed by Rishis who are infallible.
We are living in
a busy and consumerist world, which denies the ecological balance of
the world. Ayurveda, which has its roots in ancient vedas, stresses
on the necessity of morality for keeping world in harmony. The real
aim of the life is to complete "purushartha":- Dharma,
Ardha, Kama, and Moksha. Dharma means morality, Ardha means, the
wealth achieved through moral means, Kama means desires and
satisfaction of desires using the money earned through moral means
and Moksha means liberation from the worldly ties (to attain
salvation). Man aspires to live in pleasure and comfort but such a
life should be vested in Dharma which advocates that no one else
should be denied of such a life. This needs high moral values and
self discipline. So morality is the law which disciplines and
regularises life, to live and let others live.
The men who
have propagated such laws are known as Rishis in Indian culture.
They had complete knowledge about Thrikala - past, present and
future. They had the insight of whole universe from the beginning to
the end. The science of life, Ayurveda, has been gifted to the world
by such Rishis (errorless persons). Ayurveda is a noble gift to the
mankind for preserving the 'ayus' which means life. As it was
derived from the revelation of the Rishis, Ayurveda has its stand in
the spiritual realm of the mind. This kind of ordered and
disciplined life is known as Rishi culture. Following this order of
life is considered 'guruthwam'.
'Guruthwam' is a culture
enumerating the various universal phenomena in the descending order
of their importance.
Thridosha sidhandha
Thridosha
sidhandha is the main principle of Ayurvedic treatment. Thridosha
Sidhandha is a principle propagating that the health of a human
being is based on a balance of three parameters of the body, Vata,
Pita and Kapha. Health means the body keeping the equilibrium in
these three doshas and the body, which fails to maintain this
equilibrium is sick. Thus treatment is meant to set right imbalances
of the thridoshas.
Padachatushtayam
Herbal
medicine alone cannot cure a disease. Vydhya (physician), who has
completely devoted his life to medical researches by the help of
knowledge earned from the Rishis culture, is undeniably a part of
the process of curing.
The
whole treatment work in this way
There
must be a super special approach to Ayurveda.
Pre-requisites of a Patient according to Ayurveda for
effective cure
Belief
in God, having foresight, tolerance, self-control, belief in the
physician and in the science, taking medicines and observing strict
diet control are essential pre-requisites for a patient who
undergoes Ayurvedic treatment. Ayurveda is a holistic system of
medicine.
PURITY
OF MIND IS ESSENTIAL
Ayurvedic method of examining a Patient
F
Dooshyam:Dooshyasthithi
in the body. Seven types of dooshyas in the body, rasa, raktha,
mamsa, medas, asthi, majja and sukla.
F
Deasam:
Patient's
place and affected part of the body.
F
Balam:
Sahajabalam
( immunity power acquired by birth)
F
Kalam:
Climatic
relations with the disease.
F
Analam:
Digestive
power of the patient.
F
Prakruthi:
Seven
types of Prakruthis. a. vata, b.pita , c. kapha , d.Vathapita,
e. pitakapha , f. vathakapha & g. sannipata
F
Vaya:
Age
of the patient
F
Sathvam:
Ability
to tolerate pain
F
Satmyam:
Habits
of the patient
F
Aharam:
Food Habits of the patient
According
to Ayurveda, the diseases must be classified as given below before
starting course of treatment.
F
Easily
curable
F
Difficult
to cure
F
Incurable
Prognosis
of the disease may vary from person to person depending on the above
mentioned factors.
Roga Pareeksha - Examination of Disease
Diagnosis
of disease done by ascertaining the following five factors.
F
Nidanam:Causative
factors of the disease
F
Poorvaroopam:
Prodromal
symptoms.
F
Roopam:
Sign
and symptoms
F
Upashayam:
Trial
and error method
F
Samprapthi:
Pathogenic
Diagnosis
and treatment are also based on the sources of knowledge. Chaturvidha
jnanam(four sources of knowledge)
F
Pratyaksham:What
is apparent
F
Anumanam:
Coming
to conclusion on the basis of possibility
F
Aptopadesa:
Application
of the theories put forward by the errorless people (Rishis),
who combined experience and revelation which made their theories
authentic and immortal
F
Yukthi:
Logic
Division of treatment
Treatment
can simply be divided into two. First one Samanam means mitigation
and Sodhanam, which means purification. The process of purification
is known as "Panchakarma". There is one more type of
treatment Swasthahitham which means maintaining health through a
disciplined diet and ordered living.
Swasthahitam
Proper
way of living and doing proper things at the proper time (Proper
food, proper sleep and leading a healthy way of life).
No
Pain, No Gain
Source of Medicine
Most
of the Ayurvedic preparations are made from medicinal herbs
available in the nature. Herbs are the real friends of the human
body. The Western Ghats of Kerala is rich in a diversity of
medicinal plants.
Actions of Ayurvedic medicines
F
Rasam:a.
Swadu ( Sweetness), b. Amlam (Sourness), c. Lavanam (Salt
flavour), d. Thiktham (Bitterness), e. Ooshanam (Hot) and f.
Kashaya (Mixed taste)
F
Veeriyam:
Effect
of the medicine
F
Vipakam:
Rasa
combines with digestive enzymes and results in Vipakarasa
F
Prabhavam:
Avayava
prabhavam and Samudaya prabhavam
Vimsathi Gunam.
Pharmacology
of Ayurvedic medicines depend upon 20 types of medicinal qualities
F
Guru-Heaviness
F
Laghu-Lightness
F
Manda-Slowness
F
Theeshna-Intensity
F
Rooksha-Dryness
F
Seetha-Coldness
F
Ushna-Heat
F
Ghara-Roughness
F
Sandra-Density
F
Mrudu-Softness
F
Sthira-stability
F
Sookshma-Micro(invisible)
F
Chala-Mobility
F
Slashna-Soothening
effect
F
Visadam-Clarity
F
Pischilam-Mucilaginous
nature
F
Dravam-Liquidity
F
Snigdha-Oily
nature
F
Kaddinam-Hardness
There
are eight branches in Ayurveda known as "Ashtanga Chikitsa"
F
Kayachikitsa
- General medicine
F
Balachikitsa
- Paediatric treatment
F
Graha
chikitsa - Psychiatry
F
Urdhvanga
chikitsa - ENT and Head
F
Salya
chikitsa - Surgery
F
Damstra
chikitsa - Toxicology
F
Jara
chikitsa - Means to maintain immunity of the body.
F
Vajeekara
chikitsa - Maintaining sexual power and infertility treatment)
"Charaka"
is considered as the acharya of Kayachikitlsa (general medicine).
"Sushrutha" is considered as father of surgery.
A
treatment without the guidance of an experienced physician and the
indiscriminate use of marketed medicine can be harmful
