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50.0%ANMag Issue 24 Global Awareness
Ayurveda medicine
By Salwa Zahabi, Staff Writer
Beirut, Lebanon − Ayurveda is a traditional holistic approach that teaches us the methods for enriching our lives by staying in harmony with nature. Ayurveda`s main principle is maintaining the health of an individual and treating a person suffering from illnesses.
The word "Ayurveda" is a compound of the word āyus which means "life," and the word veda refers to a system of "knowledge". Thus "Ayurveda" means the "knowledge of life". It is also considered a science that deals with treating the diseased conditions as well as teaching the individual the various methods that are vital to carry out a healthy life.
Ayurveda`s main concept is based on the theory that health exists when there is complete harmony and balance between three main humors or doshas called Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These doshas are the three primary energetic principles that are governed for regulating every physiological and psychological process in the body and the mind. The term dosha means "that which causes things to decay". It reflects the fact that when out of balance or harmony, the doshas are the causative forces in the disease process. A harmonious state of the three doshas facilitates the balance in the body, mind, and emotions.
Vata means "that which moves things: it is sometimes translated as wind. Vata is comprised of primarily air with ether being a secondary element. It is responsible for the movement of air in and out of the lungs, blood through the circulatory system, and thoughts through the mind. It promotes mental balance and comprehension.
Pitta means "that which digests things". It is primarily fire with water as a secondary element. It is responsible for all chemical and metabolic transformers in the body, as well as for heat production. It stimulates the intellect and kindles the capacity for enthusiasm.
Kapha means "that which holds things together". Kapha provides support and substance to the body. Its primary element is water with earth as a secondary element. It gives strength and stability, both physical and psychological, and governs human emotions such as love, compassion, forgiveness, loyalty and patience.
There is a stereotype explanation of each dosha for when it is in balance and when it is out of balance. Vata is air and space, so its qualities are cool, dry, and irregular. Physically, vatic people tend to be easily chilled, with dry skin, dry kinky or wavy hair, light or colored eyes, and an irregular or disproportional build. Mentally, they are creative, enthusiastic, intuitive, and sometimes even clairvoyant. They have sharp minds, but poor memories. When imbalanced, this type becomes fearful and can suffer from insomnia and constipation, as well as chronic fatigue and chronic pain syndromes.
Pitta is mainly fire, so its qualities are hot, oily, irritable, and intense. Physically, pitta people have medium, athletic builds, angular faces fine thin hair that grays early and red tints in their skin. Mentally, they are quick-witted, intelligent, ambitious, and competitive. If imbalanced, they are angry, impatient, impulsive, and can even be violent. When out of balance, this type tends to have inflammatory illnesses, bleeding ulcers, colitis, chronic sore throats, or red, warm, itchy or burning skin eruptions.
Kapha types could never muster the kind of intensity that ends up in a fight, especially in the evening hours when they would rather be curled up on a comfortable sofa with some snacks, watching TV. Kapha has the qualities of mud (earth and water), cold, heavy, wet, and stable. This type tends to have large frames, with well lubricated joints, which give them a certain grace. Kaphic people have cool, pale, thick skin, large eyes, broad even teeth, and lustrous hair. They are usually quite handsome. Mentally, they are determined, steady, hard working, and loyal. It may take some time for them to learn something, but once they do they do not forget. Mentally, kaphics can be greedy, lazy, and stuck into their ruts.
The eight branches of Ayurveda are: internal medicine or "Kayachikitsa", surgery or "Shalya Tantra", ears, eyes, nose and throat or "Shalakya Tantra", pediatrics or "Kaumarabhritya Tantra", toxicology or "Agada Tantra", purification of the genetic organs or "Bajikarana or Vajikarana Tantra", health and longevity or "Rasayana Tantra", and finally spiritual healing or "Bhuta Vidya".
Ayurveda medicine is based on three concepts: Ahar (healthy and well-balanced diet), Vihar (healthy lifestyle with exercise and yoga), and Aushadh (natural medicine with Ayurvedic herbs).
Ayurveda`s concept focuses on the idea that different materials of vegetable, animal, and mineral origins have some medicinal value in curing illnesses and help in maintaining good health. Ayurvedic medicaments are made from herbs, either alone or in combination with minerals, metals and other ingredients of animal origin.
Ayurveda holds that the tastes of foods or herbs have specific physiological effects. Those tastes that transform after digestion (Vipaka) are more powerful. Sweet (Madhura) foods nourish, cool, moisten, oil, and increase weight. Sour (Amla) foods warm, oil, and increase weight. Salty (Lavan) foods warm, dissolve, stimulate, soften, oil, and increase weight. Bitter (Kata) foods cool, dry, purify, and decrease weight. Pungent (Tikta) foods warm, dry, stimulate, and decrease weight. Finally, astringent (Kasaya) foods cool, dry, and reduce stickiness.
There are a lot of herbs used in Ayurveda. For example, malabar nut is used for treating bronchitis and asthma. Aloe Vera is used for the treatment of hair and skin. Neem is used for anti-fungal treatment.
According to Ayurveda, there are three main causes of diseases: "overuse", "disuse" or "misuse" of faculties, "errors in judgments", and influence of seasonal changes.
In order to treat diseases, physicians perform some clinical examinations of patients. These examinations include textual knowledge (Aptopadesa), direct perception (Pratyaksha) and inference (Anumana). The examination of patients begins with a three (Tri) fold (Bidha) examination (Pariksha) which includes a general examination of the patient and this examination includes visual observation (Darshan), tactile perception (Sparshan), questioning (Prashan), and ten (Dash) fold (Bidha) examination (Pariksha).
Also, all human diseases can be classified into seven broad categories: genetic (Adibalapravritta), congenital (Janmabalapravritta), constitutional (Doshabalapravritta), traumatic (Sanghatabalapravritta), seasonal (Klabalapravritta), infectious and spiritual (Daivabalapravritta), and natural (Swabhavbalapravritta).
Insomnia for example can be treated by Ayurvedic medicine. An aggravation of the vata or the pitta doshas causes insomnia. Insomnia is not related to the kapha dosha. The Ayurvedic doctor would first ascertain the causes of the sleeplessness and then eliminate it. Massaging the head with sesame oil can be very beneficial in overcoming sleeplessness.
Ayurvedic massage is a form of treatment for various age-related and other common disorders. Some of the advantages which can be cited are pain relief, improved circulation, stress relief, better sleep, flexibility, athletic performance and emotional benefits. There are several different types of Ayurvedic treatments such as Panchakarma, Marma massage and Abhyangam.
Common cold (Pratishyaya) is the most common dosha disorder affecting human beings. All the three doshas are responsible for the occurrence of common colds. Bhringasava is the prescribed Ayurvedic medicine for common colds.
Backache (Nithamba Shoola) is a vata disorder. Prasarani is the Ayurvedic remedy that is used for the treatment of backaches.
In India, practitioners in Ayurveda undergo five and a half years of training, including one year of internship in select Ayurveda Medical Schools, wherein they earn the professional doctorate degree of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery.
Nowadays, Ayurveda is considered to be the most practical preventive medical system in the world. Ayurveda believes in treating the root causes of a disease rather than just the symptoms. It views illness as caused by an imbalance in a person's physical or mental constitution, and therefore seeks to gently bring a person's body and mind back into a healthy balance. Ayurvedic medical theory and science, although ancient, has enduring relevance and wisdom for human beings in any age. It has been used to treat millions of people over centuries and will continue to offer insight to people well into the future.