ARTICLES ON AYURVEDA

AYURVEDA - HERBAL HEALING SYSTEM OF INDIA.

Ayurveda (Ayur means life, Veda means knowledge), the knowledge of life as it is befittingly called, is the indigenous system of healing in India, which dates back to the period of Vedas (B.C.3080) and is considered the richest living tradition associated with the use of medicinal plants in the world. Drugs prepared from mineral and animal origin are also used in Ayurveda. This system of medicine is characterized by the Holistic Health approach based on the principles of Nature and helps maintain the balance of the physiological systems, which leads to perfect health.

The basic edifice of Ayurveda is founded on the fundamental theory - Tridosha theory (3 humours) i.e., (1) Vatha (2) Pitha and (3) Kapha. It is a formula, which comprehends infinite type of factors and functions in the body. Health or well being is maintained if these principles operate in harmony with one another. Disorder or chaotic conditions emerge to produce disease or illness if they do not operate in harmony with one another or in abnormal fashion. VATHA is the principle of movement ; it is the vital energy, which permeates and regulates the various functions of the whole system of the body. The functions of Vayu(air) in the normal state are respiration, functions of organs, thought, power, speech, excretion and other regulatory mechanisms. PITHA is the principle of transformation; it is responsible for all biochemical reactions like digestion, assimilation and many more similar reactions. It maintains balance between oxidation and heat generated in body. The normal pitha maintains assimilation, temperature, cheerfulness etc. Essentially the motion of pitha is related to process of thermogenesis regulating the functions of metabolism. KAPHA is the principle of solidity and compactness; it is responsible for coolness, general stability of the body and build, potency and strength etc. It can be stated that live protoplasm, whether animal or vegetable origin, has got to be tridoshic otherwise it will be a mass of inanimate matter.

In Ayurveda, the relation of the concept of Panchaboota to the theory of Tridosha is very important. Panchabhoota i.e., five subtle elements are the basic building block of the gross world and are the most basic objects of our perceptions. The five bhootas are Akasha (Principle of space), Vayu (Principle of air), Tejus (Principle of fire), Jala (Principle of water), Prithvi (Principle of solidity/earth). The five subtle elements represent the state that has come into being or the state of primary existence. Every form we see is the composite state of the five bhootas resulting from a sequential progression from the lighter plane of existence i.e., Akasha to a more dense situation i.e., Prithvi.

The Tridosha (humours) theory has been derived from the Panchabhootas. Akasha and Vayu constitute the principle of Vatha (movement), Tejus and Jala constitute the principle of Pitha (Transformation), Jala and Prithvi constitute the principle of Kapha (solidity). In short structure, transformations and movement, which correspond respectively are the basic principles of the universe according to Ayurveda. The law of uniformity in the constitution of material objects including human body on one side and drugs on the other, is the fundamental basis for the therapeutics in Ayurveda. The evidence in the theory of Ayurveda is the form of propositions based upon the reality of the nature, which is nothing but a meaningful assertion of the reality. Logical positivism and various postulates of reasoning have been the foundation in formulating the theories in Ayurveda.

‘PROPERTY – ACTION’ CONCEPT.

In Ayurveda, matter is defined as the invariable associate of properties and action. Hence the study of the drugs is based on rather qualitative point of view than the structural description and the specific properties in a drug are identified by the particular actions produced by the drug. According to the theory of Panchabhoota (five subtle elements) the observation of a substance in subtle plane can no longer be objectified i.e., they cannot be referred to as something that takes place objectively or in a describable manner in space and time. Hence the concept of matter is developed in relation to properties and actions. Ayurveda describes twenty properties and its corresponding properties described in Ayurveda are the homogenous and simultaneous mixture of the opposites (ie positive and negative), which are interdependent with complementary relationships keeping the dynamic interplay between two extremes. It is important to note that any finite expression has to be identified in terms of properties and also with regard to how they behave in a given situation.

The properties of substances in subtle as well as gross plane are infered in terms of the actions like movement, interaction and transformation. Mass is the form of energy attributed with properties and actions. Every structure is a substratum within which takes place continuous transformation under the tendency to move along with the thermal vibrations inherent in itself. In subtle plane there occurs condensations of particular realms of energy making it more consistant with particular properties and actions. Albert Einstein, explaining quantum mechanics states that there is no place in this new kind of physics both for the field and matter is the only reality. In each process of condensation and in the formation of new patterns in subtlity there occur displacements and additions of properties resulting in the redistribution of energies due to the process of self inter actions. The theories in Ayurveda postulates to conceive the subtle particles in terms of processes rather than objects and this plane is strongly a dynamic network of events and emphasis is given to transformation rather than fundamental structures or entities.

The bhootas are the metaphors to describe the nature (qualities) of the world like the molecule is detected by its qualities such as mass, energy, cohesiveness etc. The bhootas and Doshas (humours) are identified in relation to the properties and actions elicited in different situations. When the properties get altered due to various endogenous and exogenous reasons it results in abnormal functions in the body, which is termed as illness.

In short ,functionally:

Vatha =Force equivalent to functions related to nervous system,
Pitha = Force equivalent to functions related to metabolism,
Kapha =Force equivalent to functions related to structure and hormones.

THE CONCEPT OF DHATUS

Ayurveda describes seven dhatus (tissue principles), which comprehends in itself the principles of anatomy and physiology of the body. The dhatus are the expression of dosha (humours) and hence the disequilibrium of doshas reflect over the dhatus (tissue principles) as the symptoms of diseases. The seven dhatus are,

(1) Rasa (principle of chyle),
(2) Rekta (principle of blood),
(3) Mamsa (principle Of muscles),
(4) Medas (principle of adiposity),
(5) Maja (principle of marrow),
(6) Asthi (principle of bone),
(7) Sukla (principle of sperm/ovum).

Applying the theory of panchabhoota and tridosha, Ayurveda reduces the innumerable conditions of the normalcy of the systems in health and abnormalcy of the systems in the disease. The morbidity is identified in relation to the symptoms produced by the dosha predominant in every disease process.

TREATMENT IN AYURVEDA.

The principle of treatment in Ayurveda focuses on bringing back the normalcy of functions of systems by various methods. The method is a process of changing the condition through different steps and there by establish the equilibrium of doshas (humours). In fact treatment is directed to perform a well-planned re-arrangement in the subtle plane according to Ayurveda.

There are eight divisions of treatments in Ayurveda

(1) Kaya chikitsa (general treatment)
(2) Bala chikitsa (Pediatrics)
(3) Urndhanga chikitsa (ENT & eye diseases treatment),
(4) Grahachikitsa (Psychiatry),
(5) Salya chikitsa (surgical procedures),
(6) Visha chikitsa (toxicology),
(7) Rasayana chikitsa (geriatrics).
(8)Vajeekarana chikitsa (Aphrodisiac treatment).

Treatments includes various types of therapies like medicated oil massage, preventive aspects like daily and seasonal regimens, curative /curative purification process using herbal preparations like juice of wet herbs, herbal pastes (kalka), kashayams (herbal decotions) medicated oils, medicated butter and ghee preparation, Arishtams (fermented preparations) etc.

Among the various therapies, Panchakarma (purification therapy) is the specialty of Ayurveda treatments that consists of Snehana (oleation), Swedana (sudation), Vamana (inducing emesis), Virechana (inducing purgation), Nasya (medication through nostrils), Kashaya Vasti (enema using medicated decoction) and Snehavasti (enema using medicated oils). These treatments help cleanse the systems to maintain perfect health. The inconsistency developed and lodged in Dhatus (tissue spaces) due to the vitiation of doshas (humours) gets eliminated by the panchakarma therapy.

Ayrvedic pharmacology is based on a sophisticated indigenous knowledge category called ‘ DRAVYAGUNA SASTRA’ consisting of the study of a drug in relation to its Rasa (tastes), Guna (properties), Veerya (potency), Vipaka (biotransformation) and Prabhava (special therapeutic action).

Ayurveda takes into serious consideration the Prakruti (body constitution- see chart), Agni (digestive fire), Ahara (food habits), Ritu (seasonal changes) etc. while selecting the drug and therapy for the particular disease. Ayurvedic pharmacology considers the overall systemic effect of any plant in terns of its effect on physiological balance (equilibrium of doshas), body tissues (dhatus) and the excretory system (malas).

Ayurveda is the mainstay of the codified traditional system of medicine in India. Today apart from its contribution to preventive and promotive health, because of its holistic approach Ayurveda also contributes a lot to curative health in several areas viz; muscular and nervous disorders, prenatal, antenatal and neonatal care, health conditions related to GI tract, skin and respiratory disorders, opthalmology, orthopaedics and mental diseases. In recent years people are also turning to Ayurveda for help in cases of career and AIDS.

Dr. Sasidharan

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