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Ayurveda
A green gesture beyond Ayurvedic treatment & medicine
Saga of Ayurvedic Treatment
Ayurveda, a natural system of medicine was originated in India more than 4,000 years ago. Historians claim that Ayurveda is an integral part of Atharva Veda. The term Ayurveda is obtained from the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge). Thus, Ayurveda means the knowledge of life. Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s earliest whole-body healing systems. It’s based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a balance between the mind, body and spirit.
As per Hindu mythology Dhanvantari, the physician to the gods who received Ayurveda from Brahma. Its original conceptions were set out in the Atharvaveda.
Charaka, ‘Father of Ayurveda’ had described in his book “Charak Samhita” eight well developed clinical branches of Ayurveda which are Kaya Chikitsa( Medicine), Shalya Tantra (Surgery), Shalakya Tantra (ENT ) and Opthalamology. Charaka as a practitioner of the traditional system of Indian medicine known as Ayurveda, presented the first concept of digestion, metabolism and immunity. He also demonstrated the fetal generation and development, anatomy of the human body, function and malfunction of the body according to the tridosha i.e. vata, pitta, and kapha.
Sushruta was the father of surgery and a specialist in cosmetic, plastic, and dental surgery. He conducted a variety of complex surgeries with the help of Shalya Tantra (Sushruta Samhita). Shalya Tantra comprised all processes, aiming at the removal of factors liable for producing pain or misery to the body or mind. He mostly dealt with complicated surgeries such as cesarean, cataract, artificial limb, fractures, urinary stones and plastic surgery.
Sushruta, “Father of Surgery” and “Father of Plastic Surgery”, Charaka, a medical genius and Vāgbhaṭa were considered to be “The Trinity” of Ayurvedic knowledge. Vāgbhaṭa was one of the most advisor of Ayurveda and the author,of the Ashtanga Sangraha & the Ashtanga Hridayam Samhita. Vāgbhaṭa compiled the Ashtanga Sangraha with eight sections of Ayurveda, these were internal medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, rejuvenation therapy, toxicology, psychiatry or spiritual healing and ENT (ear, nose and throat). ‘
Though India’s Ayurveda is the world’s oldest healing system of holistic health but during the British era it was restricted and not openly practiced or taught. In India’s post colonial era, Ayurveda was replaced by Western medicine. After Independence Ayurveda was being indispensible of global healthcare issue, as it treats the root cause of the health, not merely the symptoms unlike conventional medicine. Moreover, it focuses on rejuvenation by natural therapies to regain a balance between the body, mind, spirit and the environment. Medical students are now taught a combination of Ayurveda with the ideas of modern medicines as part of the course curriculum.
Basic Principles of Ayurveda
Ayurveda is a form of substitute medicine that is the traditional system of treatment of India and combine body, mind and spirit using a comprehensive holistic approach especially by proper diet, herbal remedies, exercise, meditation, breathing and physical therapy. Ayurveda treatments and medicines are free from any side-effects. Ayurveda medicines are all chemical-free and based on the simple herbs and ordinary supplements from the nature. The basic principle of Ayurvedic medicine is to prevent and treat ailment by maintaining balance between body, mind and environment. Ayurveda considers five basic elements Panchamahabhutas (space,air,fire,water and earth) present in the human body as three basic temperament known as tridosas (Vata,Pitta and Kapha). These three tridosas control formation, maintenance and destruction of bodily tissues as well as the digestion and elimination. Ayurveda applies for the maintenance and repair of health.
The 5 Basic Elements of Life
Thus, Ayurveda refers to knowledge of life, it’s based on an idea that disease is due to a lack of awareness. Ayurveda motivates certain lifestyle involvement with natural therapies to regain a balance between the body, mind, spirit and the environment. Everything in nature is made up of five basic elements i.e. earth, water, fire, air, and space. Extensive knowledge of the five elements allows the yogi to understand the laws of nature and to use yoga to achieve greater health, power, knowledge, wisdom and happiness.
1. Akasa (Ether) takes charge of physical attraction and fear. expansion, contraction and suppression.
2. Air (Vayu) manages of breathing like
3. Fire (Agni) founds in hunger, thirst and sleep.
4. Water (Jala) founds in saliva, urine, semen, blood and sweat.
5. Solid format such as bones, flesh, skin, tissue and hair represents earth (Prithvi) form.
Akasha (Ether)
Jala (Water)
Vayu (Air)
Agni (Fire)
Prithvi (Earth)
Ether is referred to as ‘akasha’, the element that comes first in Ayurvedic thinking. Ether is without the earth, the water, the fire or even the wind. It is therefore the ’emptiness’. The ether element exists in the body as the empty space between cells. The hollowness of the vacuum intestines, bladder, blood vessels and the lungs are filled with ether. Ether is an element that associates us with spirit, intuition, other realms and planes.
Ayurveda suggests that drinking water is a healthy habit as it helps to get rid of many diseases from the body. Drinking water in the morning helps to wash out all the toxins from the body and cleanses the intestines. Water helps our body to keep a normal temperature, lubricate joints, defend our spinal cord and other sensitive tissues, remove of wastes through urination, perspiration and bowel movements.
In Ayurveda air means lightness, motion, breath and oxygen. When the ayurvedic element of air is out of balance it may either cause hyperactivity or fatigue. The imbalance of air can affect the joints, bowels system and the heart too. Air is related to the sense of touch. Touch and air are both an integral part, so skin which feels the touch is considered to be the sense organ of the element
The Ayurvedic concept of fire, or agni, is very important to a body. Agni is the power of intelligence within each cell, each tissue, and every system within the body. Fire portrays light, heat, energy, metabolism, and the power of transformation. In Ayurveda, Agni is described as an important factor of digestion and metabolism in the body.
The element earth referred to as “prithvi”, is the fifth element. This element is responsible for growth and structure of body tissues. Sweet foods that make energetic the Earth element include whole grains like millet, rice and root vegetables (yams, sweet potatoes and carrots). The earth element is nurturing and follows to draw all things together with it in order to bring unity, rootedness and stability.
The ideas of universal interrelatedness, the body’s constitution (prakriti) and life forces (doshas) are the basic foundation of ayurvedic medicine. Objectives of treatment relief people by eliminating impurities, decreasing symptoms, increasing resistance to disease, reducing worry and developing harmony in life. Ayurveda develops three qualities (vata, pitta and kapha) called doshas to form an important characteristics of the prakruti or constitution. These 3 doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha) have a distinct impact on bodily functions.
Vata
Vata dosha is the Ayurvedic mind-body element connected with air and space. It’s light, cool and dry in type and it controls all movement and processes in the mind and body including blood flow, elimination, breathing and the variation of thoughts in mind.
Pitta
The pitta dosha is based on fire and water. It’s commonly described as hot, light, sharp, oily, liquid, and mobile. Eating pitta aggravating foods like pungent, sour, salty, very spicy, deep-fried, red meat, coffee, black tea, smoking, alcohol, anxiety and depression are caused pitta dosha. Pitta influenced personalities are determined, competitive, ambitious and highly intelligent with good insight and biased.
Kapha
Kapha dosha is the Ayurvedic mind-body element linked with earth and water. It’s slow, moist, cool, heavy, smooth, lubrication and steadiness in the mind and body. Kapha Dosha characteristics broad body frame, good stamina, calm & polite nature. If kapha is imbalanced in the body, people can face the problems of weight gain, fluid retention, allergies and fatigue.
Everyone is consisted of all three doshas. These three doshas are believed to be liable for a person’s physiological, mental and emotional health. Being a vata-pitta-kapha type means that altogether three doshas are powerful forced in the prakriti or constitution
The Seven(7) Dhatus: Operating Strength of life
Rasa Dhatu
Rasa dhatu refers to the primary waters of the body. It also refers to the plasma. Rasa dhatu relates indirectly to breast milk and menstrual fluid. Rasa flows into the body day and night which nourishes, develops and maintains the whole body functioning continuously.
Meda
Meda is the dhatu tissue that means fat. Meda smoothes the body and provides nourishment and energy. It controls fat and moisture.
Rakta Dhatu
Blood, the red liquid, is noted as rakta dhatu. Rakta Dhatu circulates, provides nutrients and oxygen to all tissues and is also responsible for the existence, hold up and care of body.
Asthi
The asthi dhatu gives support, shape and structure to the entire body. Asthi Dhatu contains mainly to bones, but also to the formation of teeth, hair and nails. Ashti Dhatu is comprised of 80% earth element, 15% air and 5% water.
Mamsa
In Ayurveda mamsa refers to the muscles of the body. Mamsa dhatu is concluded of muscles, ligaments and the skin that protects our internal organs. Mamsa dhatu is responsible for all the connective tissue, the skeletal and visceral muscle. It operates the functioning of Skin & Muscles.
Majja
Majja Dhatu means bone-marrow (asthi-majja) and nervous system. Water, as the largest quantity of moist and oily foods are the most nourishing the mojja dhatu.
Shukra
Shukra is the 7th and last Dhatu. It is bright, pure and radiant dhatu. Both the male semen and the female eggs are also a part of Shukra dhatu. In Ayurveda, Shukra Dhatu is used for reproductive tissue, since it consists of the natural spirit of all other tissues in the body. Shukra Dhatu suits to have bright eyes, radiant skin and high levels of confidence.
The twenty kinds of gunas (attributes)
Grades of Energy: Ayurvedic Ghunas
Ayurveda ascertains three basic types of energy that are present in every component on Earth as a living or non-living. It is a specific combination of science and the art of well living. The Three Gunas of Ayurveda Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas are universal energies that are almost present and change with time. The Gunas are the main theory of Ayurveda. The Three Gunas rule the entire universe. Guna theory is the ancient Indian philosophy on individual quality. The best Ayurvedic Treatment needs detailed idea of twenty basic gunas to keep up an equity of Tridosha.
The Concept of Prakriti
Prakriti is our identity, our “constitution or character” with which we were born. It does not change during the whole life as it’s responsible for the physical and mental characteristics of an individual. A person’s prakriti is the genetic equivalence of the three doshas at the moment of their formation. According to the tridosha it’s seven types. Prakriti inherently cannot be the root of disease, though it could generate a tendency for certain disorders. Prakriti assessment is related to someone’s lifestyle, physical traits, physiological functioning such as digestion, excretion, moods, nature etc.
Vata Prakriti: The motivated force
Vata dosha is the Ayurvedic mind-body element related with air and space. It’s light, cool and dry in nature and it controls all movement and action in the mind and body including blood flow, elimination, breathing and the movement of thoughts in the mind. Those with the vata dosha are generally represent as slim, energetic and creative minded.
Pitta Prakriti: The energy creator
Vata dosha is the Ayurvedic mind-body element related with air and space. It’s light, cool and dry in nature and it controls all movement and action in the mind and body including blood flow, elimination, breathing and the movement of thoughts in the mind. Those with the vata dosha are generally represent as slim, energetic and creative minded.
Khapha Prakriti : The slow executive
Kapha dosha is the Ayurvedic mind-body element which related to earth and water. It’s slow, moist, cool, oily, heavy, smooth and steady in nature and incorporates structure, lubrication and stability of the mind and body. Kapha is often connected with water energy as with love and compassion. Having a kapha predominant prakriti means that these qualities express themselves unstintingly throughout mental, emotional and physical make up.
The idea of Vikriti
Vikruti defines the nature of imbalance or illness. Vikruti is the current state or ratio of the doshas in the mind and body right now. This state of imbalance is not fixed and changes with the hour of the day, season of the year and sequential stage of life. Vikruti is the set of imbalances that having in the body and mind.
Vata Imbalance
Vata is the energy of air and ether. It is light, airy and manages body movement, motion-related functions, creativity and connection. Since Vata is cold and dry, Ayurvedic medicine prescribes consuming warm, moist, smooth and nourishing foods to overcome it as well as to cure vata imbalance external treatments administer a regular body & head massages and avoid fasting.
Pitta Imbalance
Pitta imbalance occurred when there’s too much of a fiery nature in the body. Pitta personalities are determined, competitive, ambitious, highly intelligent and keen discrimination. Eating bitter, sweet, and astringent foods can help in soothing pitta. Fruits include apples, grapes, zucchini, lettuce, cucumbers, cilantro, fresh organic dairy and beans, grains, coconut, and watermelon are also wonderful foods for pitta imbalance.
Kapha Imbalance
Kapha is the union of water and earth elements. Its nature is slow, moist, cool, oily, heavy, smooth, steady and incorporate structure, lubrication and stability in the mind and body. Kapha imbalance occurred due to the problems of weight gain, fluid retention, allergies and fatigue in the body. Kapha inequality in the body can also cause the illness like diabetes, depression, asthma and excessive of sleep. One day liquid diet in every week can help to remove excess kapha from the body. Consuming fresh fruits, vegetable juices, herbal tea & soups are the best examples of a kapha propitiate diet.
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The Ayurvedic viewpoint on Health & Sickness
Ayurveda concentrates more on healthy living than treatment of diseases. The main view of Ayurveda is the healing process. According to Ayurveda, the human body is composed of four basics like the dosha, dhatu, mala and agni. Ayurveda sets down a great emphasis on prevention of ailments and recommends maintaining health through following everyday and seasonal regimens which create balance. Ayurveda develops that three qualities of doshas (vata, pitta & khapa) form an important characteristics of the prakruti or constitution. Ayurveda consists of thousands medical concepts and hypothesis. Ayurveda has potential to treat many chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis and asthma, which are untreatable in modern medicine.
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How the Ayurveda treats the root cause of Disease
Ayurveda treatment begins with an internal purification process, followed by a special diet, herbal remedies, massage therapy, yoga, and meditation. The concepts of universal interrelation, the body’s constitution (prakriti) and life forces (doshas) are the prime factors of ayurvedic medicine. According to Ayurveda all ailments either mental or physical are caused by the imbalance of the doshas. Natural causes of the disease include internal variations of the doshas and external causes refer to injuries due to factors from outside. It’s formed on the ideology that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body and spirit. Ayurvedic Doctors make possible to reach the root cause of health issues by Nadi Pariksha(Pulse Diagnosis), Mutra Pariksha(Urine Examination) and Kaya Pariksha (Physical Examination). An Ayurvedic clinical examination comprises trividha pariksha (diagnostic methods) as inspection, interrogation and palpation of the body parts.
Pulse Diagnosis (Nadi Pariksha)
Nadi Pariksha is the earliest ayurvedic technique of diagnosis through the pulse. It can accurately diagnose physical, mental and emotional imbalances as well as diseases. It lets the practitioner to observe the progress of a patient’s healing, even if there are no other clear signs of improvement. Basically Nadi Pariksha or pulse diagnosis is most useful for early detection of conditions, even those that are just starting to develop. Generally Nadi Pariksha was done by sensing the pulse at three locations on radial artery and assessing doshas from palpation of the pulse. Nadi Pariksha realizes the vibratory frequency of the pulse at various levels on the Radial Artery.
Urine Examination (Mutra Pariksha)
Mutra is an important metabolic waste product. It consist excess water, moisture and other non-usable waste products from the body. Mutra Pareeksha is an important aid in diagnosis as well as assessing prediction of a disease. The urinary system concerned in formation and excretion of Mutra (urine) is a part of excretory system. While collecting, the first stream of urine should be removed and the successive flow should be collected in a clean container. The examination of color, form and consistency of urine is carried out to diagnose disease conditions and find out about their prognosis. When vata predominates the physical colour of urine will be pale white, when kapha dosha predominates the physical colour of urine will be frothy & when pitta dosha predominates the physical colour of urine will be reddish.
Physical Examination (Kaya Pariksha)
Ayurveda takes into consideration the pathogenic factors, a patient’s total course of action (diet, drug and regimen compatible with the constitution) to determine the root cause of the disease and to select treatments. An Ayurvedic physical examination includes three diagnostic methods (trividha pariksha) such as inspection, interrogation and palpation.
Inspection (Darshan Pariksha) involves observation of the body parts like skin, hair, eyes, lips and tongue and other body parts.
Interrogation (Prashna Pariksha) includes interpretation through a natural understanding of many factors concerned in disease explanation such as “body humors” (dosha), body tissues (dhatu), excretory products (mala), digestive power (agni) and body channels (srota). Understanding of medical history, symptoms and psychological and physiological characteristics are connected during the interrogation.
Palpation (Sparshana Pariksha) includes examination of pulse and palpation of body parts (abdominal palpation, skin, etc.)
The Ayurvedic concepts of physiology, pathology, diagnosis, medicine and therapeutics are based on the doctrine of the three doshas. Every dosha is believed to have inherent attributes, which are expressed in the physical, psychological and physiological characteristics of an individual.
Tongue examination helps in determining “status of digestion”. Visual inspection of the tongue includes examination of tongue colour, shape and tongue coating. According to Ayurveda, breakdown of digestive lied at the root of all diseases. The reduced functioning of the biological fire (mandagni) causes the improper digestion of the food and leads to develop of an autotoxin. Inspection of the tongue coating at the primary stage is useful to diagnose.
Ayurvedic treatment focuses on curing the disease – not just the symptoms
The best Ayurvedic treatment in Kolkata and elsewhere focuses more on bringing a balance in the health of an individual instead of treating the disease. By promoting the overall health, Ayurveda indirectly restricts the disease and cures the ailments. An ayurvedic health system is a holistic approach that believes in all the factors and not just the disease.
Ayurvedic treatment is based more on the procedure of detoxification, cleansing, strengthening and rejuvenation. This can help to clear away the possibility of the disease occurring in the future. This can be executed by using medicines, suitable diet, activity and regimen for restoring the balance. Moreover, this process helps in strengthening the mechanism of the human body to prevent the repetition of the disease.
Ayurvedic treatment must be carried out under the direction of experts through the proper intake of high-quality drugs and food. The main objective of the treatment is not only to cleanse a human body and reduce the symptoms of the illness but also restore harmony and balance in the body.
Elements of Ayurvedic treatment
Ayurveda is an entire medicine system which includes a healing system, a philosophy and a way of life. The science of Ayurveda does not only rely on the symptoms as related by the patient, but believes in a thorough examination to find the root cause of the patient’s illness. Ayurvedic medicines are generally made with natural ingredients that don’t cause devastating effects on your health. It has been proven to be effective in fighting skin diseases like Eczema, Psoriasis and white Patches. Ayurvedic treatments can reduce pain and increase function in people with osteoarthritis (knee pain, back pain & neck pain) and help to manage symptoms in people with type 2 diabetic. Moreover, sexual issues like Premature Ejaculation (PE) and Erectile Dysfunction (ED) can also be treated successfully through Ayurveda as it offers complete wellness of the body, both physically and mentally. Ayurvedic treatments comprise of:
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