Introduction To The Ayurvedic System of Medicine

Ayurveda is India’s traditional medicine derived from nature and has been practiced since time immemorial. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that can be literally translated as “the natural science of life”. Ayurveda was the method of health care practised by the followers of the Vedic culture, especially the sages who meditate on mountains and don’t have any contact with the world. For many generations, this science was passed on orally through disciple succession, or from teacher to student. Nowadays, Ayurveda has gained popularity in the modern world, among rich and poor alike, in different corners of the planet.

Ayurveda teaches the prevention of disease, provides formulas for the rejuvenation of our bodily parts, and of course longevity. Ayurveda guarantees that through certain ways of living, not only can we prevent heart disease, but we can also better know ourselves and see the world around us in a proper perspective, live a long healthy life in balance and harmony, reach our maximum potential, and reveal our true inner nature.

Tridosha system

The main concept of Ayurvedic medicine is the theory that health exists when there is a harmony among the three fundamental bodily humours or doshas known as Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

- Vata has to do with the function of the nervous system.

- Pitta is the energy and it has to do with the digestive and venous system

- Kapha is the body fluid principle which relates to mucous, lubrication and the carrier of nutrients into the arterial system.

All Ayurvedic physicians believe that these ancient ideas, based on the vedic scriptures, exist in harmony with the physical reality. These Ayurvedic concepts allow practitioners to examine the homeostasis of the whole system. One dosha is predominant in everyone, but all doshas are contaminated by the remaining two.

Ayurvedic tastes

Ayurveda states that the tastes of foods or plants have specific physiological effects. Those tastes that transform during and after digestion are very powerful.

The following are the different ayurvedic tastes:

Madhura, or sweet: Sweet foods are in goodness. They nourish, cool, moisten, oil, and increase the body weight.

Amla, or sour: Sour foods are in passion. They warm, oil, and increase body weight too.

Lavan, or salty: Salty foods are in passion. They heat, dissolve, invigorate, soften, oil, and increase body weight.

Katu, or bitter: Bitter foods are in passion as well. They cool, dry, purify and reduce body weight.

Tikta, or pungent: Pungent foods are also in passion. They warm, dry, stimulate, and reduce body weight.

Kasaya, or astringent: Astringent foods are in passion. They cool, dry, reduce stickiness.

Panchakarma and Ayurvedic massage

Panchakarma is the five actions or modalities. It is a collection of purification processes that Ayurveda reccommends for some diseases and for periodic cleaning of the body. A treatment of Pancharkarma normally includes a short-term dietary prescription, massage, herbs, at times purgatives also, sweat baths, medicated enemas, and nasal cleansing.

Treatment such as Ayurvedic massage is for various age and use to cure other common disorders. Some of the advantages are pain relief, improved blood circulation, stress relief, better sleep, flexibility, sports performance and emotional wellbeing. Massage therapy can soothe pain, relax tense muscles, and decrease the swelling that accompanies arthritis. Studies claim that, with ayurvedic massage, deep-rooted toxins between the joints and tissues are slackened and released into the body for elimination through natural toxin-release processes. There are different types of ayurvedic treatments such as panchakarma and marma massage. Ayurvedic massage is especially developed in South India, in the state of Kerala and Sri Lanka.

A Short Introduction To Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurveda is the Sanskrit work meaning “knowledge of life” and Ayurvedic Medicine is an alternative form of medicine. It is a traditional Indian medicine which scholars are still not sure about when it actually began, but the general consensus is that it began between 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. In fact scholars are now saying that Ayurvedic Medicine is the oldest form of medicine around and were influenced by both Greek and Traditional Chinese medicine. Because of this claim Ayurvedic Medicine has become labeled the “Mother of all Healing”. It is the art of balance and longevity for the human body.

Understanding Ayurvedic Medicine in the beginning is difficult because of all the “strange terminologies” that are associated with it. But once someone has got used to these it does become much easier to understand.

Ayurveda has it roots in an ancient religion and that religion is Hinduism. In the beginning and for many years the practices of Ayurveda were passed down by word of mouth. When people first began to write down the practices of Ayurveda it was written on to palm leaves and then later on people began to write it down on to manuscripts. These medical manuals are known as the “Charaka Samhita” and the “Sushruta Samhita” and are rooted in early Vedic culture. The Vedic culture is inherently spiritual and focuses on love, philosophy and “Universal Truths”.

In Ayurveda a person is not just seen as a body and mind but rather as an entity that includes a spiritual dimension and if you wish to live in harmony with the cosmic law you will live the Ayurvedic way of life.

As far as Ayurvedic Medicine is concerned we are all created by the cosmos as either a male energy (Purusha) or a female energy (Prakruti). Whilst the Purusha is passive awareness the Prakruti is an active consciousness. Ayurvedic Medicine is holistic in its concepts as it tries to maintain the balance between the body, mind and spirit of a person. This can be done though the person having the right thoughts, diet and lifestyle. According to Ayurvedic Medicine the body is composed of 5 basic elements which are called the Panchamahabhootas and this is then divided as follows Space – Akasha, Air – Vayu, Water – Apa, Fire – Tejas and Earth – Prithvi.

Where Ayurvedic Medicine is concerned it is imperative that you understand what brings about the balance and what causes an unbalance in a person. It is not just physically, mentally and socially that we have to be in harmony but also spiritually as well. Whether there is an increase or decrease in any of the qualities of the doshas will cause an imbalance. An imbalance can be caused due to time or age (although they do not cause many problems) these problems can be easily rectified. Whilst in the case of an unnatural imbalance and where the problems may be more serious then more attention will need to be applied to achieve the right balance. Such imbalances may be caused due to an inappropriate diet or lifestyle or a traumatic experience or a virus that you have caught.

Ayurvedic Medicine consists of many different components which help to bring the doshas back into balance and some such treatments may include meditation, herbal preparation, diet, pulse diagnosis and yoga. Ayurvedic Medicine is made from herbs or a mixture of herbs and will be a combination of one or more of the following:-

Herbs
Minerals
Metals
Animals

Though Ayurvedic Medicine is still being looked at with some skeptism when practiced in the West it has been said to be rather successful when dealing with digestive disorders, skin problems, gynecological problems and alleviating problems related to congested sinuses and stress.