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Ayurveda Details
A·yur·ve·da ( ī'yər-vā'də,
-vē'-)
n.
The ancient Hindu science of health and medicine.
[Sanskrit āyurvedaḥ
: āyuḥ, life, health +
vedaḥ, knowledge, lore.]
A'yur·ve'dic
adj.
Ayurveda (आयुर्वेद
Sanskrit: ayu—life; veda—knowledge
of) or ayurvedic medicine is a more
than 6,000 year old comprehensive system of
medicine based on a
holistic approach rooted in
Vedic culture. Its conspicuous use of the word
veda, or knowledge, reveals its role in early
Hinduism and describes its hallowed place in
India. Ayurveda also had a tradition of
surgery. Two early texts of Ayurveda are the
Charaka Samhita and the
Sushruta Samhita.
The
Charaka and
Sushruta Samhitās are compendiums of two
traditions rather than texts authored by single
authors. A third tradition is that of the Kāshyapas.
The beginnings of these traditions dates to the
2nd millennium BC if not earlier because of the
parallel information obtained in the
Vedic Samhitās and the description in the
Mahābhārata. There is much that is common in the
texts, except that the Sushruta Samhitā is richer in
the field of
surgery. Part of the original Caraka Samhitā is
lost, and the current version has several chapters
by the
Kashmiri scholar
Dridhabala.
An attempt to reconcile the texts of Caraka and
Sushruta was made by Vāgbhata the Elder in
2nd century BC in his Ashtānga Sangraha. The
works of Caraka, Sushruta, and the Elder Vagbhata
are considered canonical and reverentially called
the Vriddha Trayi, "the triad of ancients"; or Brhat
Trayi, "the greater triad." Later, Vāgbhata the
Younger wrote the Ashtānga Hridaya Samhitā which is
a lucid presentation of the Āyurveda giving due
place to the surgical techniques of Sushruta. In the
eighth century, Mādhav wrote his Nidāna, which soon
assumed a position of authority. In the 79 chapters
of this book, he lists diseases along with their
causes, symptoms, and complications.
Ayurveda used
inoculation for protection against
smallpox. This was a consequence of the
principle that like cures like on a small level,
whereas at a grosser level opposites cure opposites.
Ayurveda has employed certain toxic substances in
small dosages for powerful healing effects,
including its
alchemical preparations. It also used various
herbal and animal toxins like snake venoms. It has a
whole science of toxicology called agada-tantra
as one of the eight branches of traditional
Ayurveda. This branch not only treated poisons but
used them in certain conditions, generally in small
dosages.
The Ayurvedic idea is that the organism adapts to
the environment and its food, climate etc. This
principle of adaptation is called satyma.
Through introducing small amounts of a germ, the
organism can adapt to it and learn to resist it.
Ayurveda became increasingly
symptom-based, treating the symptoms of a
disease rather than the
root cause. However, it is important to note
that Ayurveda was originally a consciousness based
system of health care. Its philosophy, expressed in
modern terms, is to strengthen the immune system.
Qualities
It could be said that the simple essence of
ayurveda is knowledge and awareness of the qualities
of nature – called gurvadi gunah. By
understanding the qualities inherent in the
environment, in foodstuffs, in activities, etc., one
gains an appreciation of their effects on the
individual constitution through the principle of
similarities; i.e., that similarities cause increase
while dissimilarities cause decrease. Thus hot
qualities in the environment or diet will increase
hot qualities in the body.
The gurvadi gunah are listed in
Vagbhata's Ashtanga Hrdayam as:
- Guru (heavy) – laghu
(light)
- Manda (slow) – tikshna
(quick, sharp)
- Hima (cold) – ushna (hot)
- Snigdha (unctuous) – ruksha
(dry)
- Slakshna (smooth) – khara
(rough)
- Sandra (solid) – drava
(liquid)
- Mrdu (soft) – kathina
(hard)
- Sthira (stable) – cala
(mobile)
- Sukshma (subtle) – sthula
(gross)
- Vishada (non-slimy) – picchila
(slimy)
Since everything in the material world possesses
combinations of the 20 qualities, ayurveda
postulates that every material process or object can
either harm or heal a person by influencing that
person's unique original constitution (called
prakrti). An ayurvedic practitioner will assess
the qualities of a disorder, the patient's unique
prakrti, and his/her influencing factors to
arrive at a treatment plan. The treatment plan will
consist of using herbs, therapies, diet, etc., with
opposite qualities so as to assist the patient in
re-establishing their prakrti.
The Five Elements
According to the ancient Sankhya theory of
cosmology, on which ayurveda is based, the five
elements – pancamahabhuta – combine in
different proportions to form the material world.
Each element possesses different amounts of the
above-mentioned gunas; thus each element has its
unique qualitative nature. The elements are:
- Akasha – ether or space
- Vayu – air
- Tejas or agni – fire
- Apa or jala – water
- Prthvi – earth
Some authorities state that the early European
concept of five elements evolved as a result of
contact with ayurveda.
Doshas
The 3 main doshas (organizing qualities of
intelligence) are Vata
(resembles the
classical elements ether and air),
Pitta (fire), and Kapha
(water and earth).
All bodily processes are believed to be governed
by a balance of the 3 doshas. Whichever dosha
appears to dominate a person's behavior and physique
is called his constitution type. Each
constitution type has particular strengths and
susceptibilities.
Vata
- Vata, composed of air and space,
governs all movement in the mind and body and
must be kept in good balance. Too much vata
leads to "worries, insomnia, cramps and
constipation.... Vata controls blood flow,
elimination of wastes, breathing and the
movement of thoughts across the mind." Vata
activates the nervous system, hearing and
speech; and expresses as enthusiasm and
creativity. Vata also controls the other two
principles, Pitta and Kapha,
and is usually the first cause of disease.
Pitta
- Pitta is said to be composed of
fire and water; it governs "all heat,
metabolism and transformation in the mind
and body. It controls how we digest food, how we
metabolize our sensory perceptions, and how we
discriminate between right and wrong." Pitta
must be kept in balance, too. "Too much [Pitta]
can lead to anger, criticism, ulcers,
rashes and thinning hair."
Kapha
- Kapha consists of earth and water.
"Kapha cements the elements in the body,
providing the material for physical structure.
This dosha maintains body resistance....Kapha
lubricates the joints; provides moisture to the
skin; helps to heal wounds; fills the spaces in
the body; gives biological strength, vigor and
stability; supports memory retention; gives
energy to the heart and lungs and maintains
immunity...Kapha is responsible for emotions of
attachment, greed and long-standing envy; it is
also expressed in tendencies toward calmness,
forgiveness and love." Too much Kapha leads to
lethargy and weight gain, as well as congestion
and allergies.
In sum, Ayurveda represents a system that
considers both the states of mind and body in its
diagnosis and treatment. Ayurveda took into
consideration the fact that many illnesses are
caused by foreign agents and small organisms that
may require aggressive intervention.
Today
Having lost state patronage during the
British rule in India, Ayurveda is making a slow
comeback. In practice in India, there are
Ayurvedic doctors who are purists and others who
choose to use it in
combination with Western medicine.
Ayurveda is gaining lots of interest in the
Western countries. Ayurvedic treatments in the West
are primarily dietary and herbal due to lack of well
educated Ayurvedic practitioners. Patients are
classified by body types, or prakriti, which are
determined by proportions of the three doshas.
Illness and
disease are considered to be a matter of
imbalance in the doshas. Treatment is aimed at
restoring harmony or balance to the mind-body
system.
Ayurvedic medicine is gaining in popularity
around the world. There are a number of medical
schools that teach Ayurveda.
See
History of medicine
Partial Bibliography
- Ayurveda: Science of Self Healing,
Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes,
Wisconsin ISBN 0-914955-00-4
- Ayurvedic Healing: A Comprehensive Guide,
Dr. David Frawley, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes,
Wisconsin ISBN 0-914955-97-7
- Ayurveda: Nature's Medicine, Dr.
David Frawley and Dr. Subhash Ranade, Lotus
Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin ISBN 0-914955-95-0
External links
Mentioned In
ayurveda is mentioned in the following topics:
More
ayurveda medicine, ayurveda therapy,
ayurveda college
ayurveda medicine, ayurveda therapy, ayurveda college
ayurveda medicine, ayurveda therapy, ayurveda college
ayurveda medicine, ayurveda therapy, ayurveda college
ayurveda medicine, ayurveda therapy, ayurveda college
ayurveda medicine, ayurveda therapy, ayurveda college |
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Ayurveda, Ayurveda Treatments, Ayurveda
Institute, Ayurveda school, Ayurveda schools, Ayurvedic school,
Ayurvedic schools, Ayur-veda, Ayurved, ayurvedic, Therapy,
Ayur-vedic Therapy, India, Indian Medicine, Indian Holistic
Treatements Treatments, Therapist Course, Kerala Ayurvedic Resort,
Rejuvenation Therapy, Rejuvenation Course, Rejuvenation Training,
Rejuvenation School Detoxification Therapy, Panchakarma Therapy,
Panchakarma Training, Astanga Yoga, Yoga Training, Yoga Courses,
Yoga Classes, Yoga and Meditation, Meditation Training, Meditation
Couses, Meditation Therapy, Meditation Kerala Stress and Depression,
Repetitive Strain Injuries, Strain, Injuries. Irritable Bowel,
Syndrome, Sciatica, Multiple Sclerosis, Arthritis Anryosing
Spondilis, Motor Neurone Diseases, Parkinsonism, Institute, Herbs,
medicine, herbology, nutrition, vasant lad, Panchakarma, Pancha
karma, Indian medicine, Yoga, Jyotish, astrology, vata, pitta,
kapha. Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a more than 6,000 year old
comprehensive system of medicine based on a holistic approach rooted
in Vedic culture. Its conspicuous use of the word veda, or
knowledge, reveals its role in early Hinduism and describes its
hallowed place in India. Ayurveda also had a tradition of surgery.
Two early texts of Ayurveda are the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta
Samhita. Ayurveda This article is part of the branches of CAM
series. CAM Classifications NCCAM: Alternative Medical System
Modality: Professionalized Culture: Eastern Vedic Ayurveda used
inoculation for protection against smallpox. This was a consequence
of the principle that like cures like on a small level, whereas at a
grosser level opposites cure opposites. Ayurveda has employed
certain toxic substances in small dosages for powerful healing
effects, including its alchemical preparations. It also used various
herbal and animal toxins like snake venoms. It has a whole science
of toxicology called agada-tantra as one of the eight branches of
traditional Ayurveda. This branch not only treated poisons but used
them in certain conditions, generally in small dosages. The
Ayurvedic idea is that the organism adapts to the environment and
its food, climate etc. This principle of adaptation is called
satyma. Through introducing small amounts of a germ, the organism
can adapt to it and learn to resist it. Ayurveda became increasingly
symptom-based, treating the symptoms of a disease rather than the
root cause. However, it is important to note that Ayurveda was
originally a consciousness based system of health care. Its
philosophy, expressed in modern terms, is to strengthen the immune
system. Qualities It could be said that the simple essence of
ayurveda is knowledge and awareness of the qualities of nature
– called gurvadi gunah. By understanding the qualities
inherent in the environment, in foodstuffs, in activities, etc., one
gains an appreciation of their effects on the individual
constitution through the principle of similarities; i.e., that
similarities cause increase while dissimilarities cause decrease.
Thus hot qualities in the environment or diet will increase hot
qualities in the body. The gurvadi gunah are listed in Vagbhata's
Ashtanga Hrdayam as: Doshas The 3 main doshas (organizing qualities
of intelligence) are Vata (resembles the classical elements ether
and air), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (water and earth). All bodily
processes are believed to be governed by a balance of the 3 doshas.
Whichever dosha appears to dominate a person's behavior and physique
is called his constitution type. Each constitution type has
particular strengths and susceptibilities. Vata Vata, composed of
air and space, governs all movement in the mind and body and must be
kept in good balance. Too much vata leads to "worries, insomnia,
cramps and constipation.... Vata controls blood flow, elimination of
wastes, breathing and the movement of thoughts across the mind."
Vata activates the nervous system, hearing and speech; and expresses
as enthusiasm and creativity. Vata also controls the other two
principles, Pitta and Kapha, and is usually the first cause of
disease. Pitta Pitta is said to be composed of fire and water; it
governs "all heat, metabolism and transformation in the mind and
body. It controls how we digest food, how we metabolize our sensory
perceptions, and how we discriminate between right and wrong." Pitta
must be kept in balance, too. "Too much [Pitta] can lead to anger,
criticism, ulcers, rashes and thinning hair." Kapha Kapha consists
of earth and water. "Kapha cements the elements in the body,
providing the material for physical structure. This dosha maintains
body resistance....Kapha lubricates the joints; provides moisture to
the skin; helps to heal wounds; fills the spaces in the body; gives
biological strength, vigor and stability; supports memory retention;
gives energy to the heart and lungs and maintains immunity...Kapha
is responsible for emotions of attachment, greed and long-standing
envy; it is also expressed in tendencies toward calmness,
forgiveness and love." Too much Kapha leads to lethargy and weight
gain, as well as congestion and allergies. In sum, Ayurveda
represents a system that considers both the states of mind and body
in its diagnosis and treatment. Ayurveda took into consideration the
fact that many illnesses are caused by foreign agents and small
organisms that may require aggressive intervention. Today Having
lost state patronage during the British rule in India, Ayurveda is
making a slow comeback. In practice in India, there are Ayurvedic
doctors who are purists and others who choose to use it in
combination with Western medicine. Ayurveda is gaining lots of
interest in the Western countries. Ayurvedic treatments in the West
are primarily dietary and herbal due to lack of well educated
Ayurvedic practitioners. Patients are classified by body types, or
prakriti, which are determined by proportions of the three doshas.
Illness and disease are considered to be a matter of imbalance in
the doshas. Treatment is aimed at restoring harmony or balance to
the mind-body system.Ayurvedic medicine is gaining in popularity
around the world. |
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