Ayurveda

History of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a system of traditional medicine native to India and practiced in other parts of the world as a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, the word Ayurveda consists of the words ayus, meaning 'life', and veda, meaning 'related to knowledge' or 'science'.

Evolving throughout its history, Ayurveda remains an influential system of medicine in South Asia. The earliest literature of Ayurveda appeared during the Vedic period in India. The Sushruta Samhita and the Charaka Samhita were influential works on traditional medicine during this era. Ayurvedic practitioners also identified a number of medicinal preparations and surgical procedures for curing various ailments and diseases.

As per Indian heritage and science, "Ayurveda" is an Upaveda or annexure to the four main vedas (knowledge systems). The famous treaties of Ayurveda are Charaka Samhita by Sage Charaka, which details the prevention and treatment of disease, and Sushruta Samhita of Sage Sushruta, which deals with Ayurvedic surgical procedures. In the Ayurvedic system, the prevention of all types of disease has a prominent place in treatment, including restructuring a patient's lifestyle to align with the course of nature and the four seasons to guarantee complete wellness.

Ayurveda is considered to be a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) within the western world, where several of its methods, such as the use of herbs, massage, and Yoga as exercise or alternative medicine, are applied on their own as a form of CAM treatment.

Overview of practice

Ayurveda is grounded in a metaphysics of the 'five [great] Elements' viz. earth, water, fire, air and ether— all of which compose the Universe, including the human body.

Chyle (called Rasa dhatu), blood (called Rakta dhatu), flesh (called Mamsa dhatu), fat (called Medha dhatu), bone (called Asthi dhatu), marrow (called Majja dhatu), and semen (called Shukra dhatu) or female reproductive tissue (called Artava dhatu) are held to be the seven primary constituent elements of the body.

Ayurveda stresses a balance of three substances: vata (wind/spirit/air), pitta (bile) and kapha (phlegm), each representing divine forces. According to Ayurveda, these three regulatory principles— Doshas are important. Traditional beliefs hold that humans possess a unique constellation of Doshas.

In Ayurveda, the human body perceives attributes of experiences as 20 Guna. Surgery and surgical instruments are employed. It is believed that building a healthy metabolic system, attaining good digestion, and proper excretion leads to vitality. Ayurveda also focuses on exercise, yoga, meditation, and massage. Thus, body, mind, and spirit/consciousness need to be addressed both individually and in unison for health to ensue.

For diagnosis the patient is to be questioned and all five senses are to be employed. The Charaka Samhita recommends a tenfold examination of the patient. The qualities to be judged are: constitution, abnormality, essence, stability, body measurements, diet suitability, psychic strength, digestive capacity, physical fitness and age. Hearing is used to observe the condition of breathing and speech. The study of the vital pressure points or marma is of special importance.

There are identifies five influential criteria for diagnosis: 'origin of the disease, prodrominal (precursory) symptoms, typical symptoms of the fully developed disease, observing the effect of therapeutic procedures, and the pathological process.'

Hygiene— also a component of religious virtue to many Indians— is a strong belief. Hygienic living involves regular bathing, cleansing of teeth, skin care, and eye washing. Occasional anointing of the body with oil is also prescribed.

Oils— such as sesame and sunflower oil— are extensively used in Ayurvedic medicine. Studies show that both these oils contain substantial amount of linoleate in triglyceride form. Oils rich in linoleic acid may have antineoplastic properties. Hundreds of vegetable drugs are used in Ayurvedic medicine— including cardamom and cinnamon.

Ayurveda stresses the use of vegetable drugs. Fats are used both for consumption and for external use. Hundreds of vegetable drugs are employed, including cardamom and cinnamon. Some animal products may also be used, for example milk, bones, and gallstones etc. Minerals— including sulfur, arsenic, lead, copper sulfate, gold— are also consumed as prescribed. This practice of adding minerals to herbal medicine is known as Rasa Shastra.

The proper function of channels— tubes that exist within the body and transport fluids from one point to another— is seen as vital, and the lack of healthy channels may lead to disease and insanity. Sushruta identifies that blockages of these channels may lead to rheumatism, epilepsy, paralysis, and convulsions as fluids and channels are diverted from their ideal locations. Sweating is favored as a manner in which to open up the channels and dilute the Doshas causing the blockages and harming a patient— a number of ways to take steam bathing and other steam related cures are recommended so that these toxins are released.

Ayurvedic Treatments

Ayurveda, the traditional system of healing that has been practiced in India for centuries. This system of medicine is widely practiced in Kerala and its medical benefits have been recognized worldwide. Ayurveda which evolved in India around 600 B.C. is based on the theory that the body has three humors vatta, pitta and kapha, which need to be kept in balance for the body to remain in a state of health.

Ayurveda treats not merely the symptoms of a condition or the condition itself, but the body as a whole. This holistic approach to health, stresses on the need for all toxins to be eliminated from the body to improve the overall health of the body. Traditionally people in Kerala undergo an annual series of treatments in the monsoon season to improve resistance and eliminate the causes of illness, to ensure a state of good health in the year ahead.

Kerala - The Land of Ayurveda

Kerala's equable climate, natural abundance of forests (with a wealth of herbs and medicinal plants), and the cool monsoon season (June - November) are best suited for Ayurveda's curative and restorative packages. In fact, today, Kerala is the only State in India which practices this system of medicine with absolute dedication.

Ayurveda is gaining popularity worldwide as a holistic and natural form o treatment and as an effective alternate form of healing. Ayurveda can also be used to effectively treat lifestyle conditions such as stress and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Some of the various Ayurveda therapies are:

• Abhyangam
• Dhanyamla Dhara
• Dhara
• Elakizhi
• Nasyam
• Pizhichil
• Njavarakizhi
• Udhwardhanam

Abhyangam (14 Days):

Special type of oil massage. Strokes are given according to the diseases for 45 minutes per day for 14 days. This treatment is very useful for Obesity, Especially for Diabetic Gangrene etc.

Dhanyamla Dhara (14 Days):

Warm herbal liquid is poured all over the body in a rhythmic way through a special vessel for 45 minutes to 1 hour daily. This treatment is very effective for hemiplegia, Paralysis Rheumatic complaints etc.

Elakizhi:

Treatment for revitalizing the skin tone ('Patraswedam'). The entire body is massaged with herbal poultices prepared with various herbs and powder dipped in warm medicated oils and increases perspiration, which in turn helps circulation.

Dhara (14 Days):

In this process, some Herbal oils, medicated milk, medicated butter milk etc. are poured on the forehead in a special method for about 45 minutes in a day for a period of 7-21 days. This treatment is mainly for Insomnia, Vital Predominated diseases, Mental tension and certain skin diseases.

Karnapooranam:

Treatment for ear ailments: Medicated oils are applied to the ear for 5 to 10 minutes daily to clean as well as treat specific ailments.

Marma Chikitsa:

Treatment for musculoskeletal ailments due to trauma or accidents works on the extremely sensitive vital points of the body (the 107 'marmas').

Nasyam (14 Days):

Herbal juices, medicated oils etc. are applied through nose for 7 to 14 day. This treatment is highly effective for certain kinds of Headaches, Paralysis, Mental disorders, some types of skin disease etc.

Pizhichil (14 Days):

In this treatment, lukewarm herbal oils are applied all over the body by two to four trained therapists i a special rhythmic way continuously for about 60 to 90 minutes per day for a period of 7 to 21 days. This treatment is very useful for Rheumatic diseases like Arthritis, Parlysis, Hemiplegia, Paralysis-Agitanus, Sexual Weakness, Nervous Wakness and Nervous disorders etc.

Treatments available for various ailments

• Allergy • Anemia • Arthritis • Asthma • Back Ache • Bleeding Gums • Blood Dysentery • Bronchitis • Cancer • Chicken Pox

• Cholera • Cough and Cold • Dengue • Diabetes • Diarrhea • Diphtheria • Dysentery • Eczema • Eye Problems • Fever

• Gastrics • Goitre • Gout • Headache • Heart Disease • Hypertension • Influenza • Insomnia • Jaundice • Kidney Problems

• Leprosy • Leukemia • Liver Problems • Malaria • Obesity • Pharyngitis • Pneumonia • Polio • Rickets • Scurvy

• Skin Disease • Spondilitis • Stomach Problems • Stomach Ulcers • Thalasemia • Thyroid • Tonsillitis • Tuberculosis • Tumors • Typhoid

Current status of Ayurveda in India

In 1970, the Indian Medical Central Council Act was passed by the Parliament of India, which aims to standardize qualifications for Ayurveda and provide accredited institutions for its study and research. In India, over 100 colleges offer degrees in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. The Indian government supports research and teaching in Ayurveda through many channels—both at the national and state levels—and helps institutionalize traditional medicine so that it can be studied in major towns and cities. The state-sponsored Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) is the apex institution for promotion of traditional medicine in India. The studies conducted by this institution encompass clinical, drug, literary, and family welfare research.

Many clinics are run by professionals who qualify from these institutes—both in the urban and the rural areas. Old manufacturing companies such as Arya Vaidya Sala, Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, IMIS Pharmaceuticals, Dabur, Baidyanath have maintained the classical range, while also patenting certain own formulations, such as Gyncocalm, Jeevani, Eosinophal, Dabur Pancharishta. Similarly, MNCs like Hindustan Unilever Limited, in collaboration with Arya Vaidya Pharmacy, has been promoting its chain of Ayurvedic Massage Therapy Centres in the Brand name of [Ayush Therapy Centre],with two of the major centers located at Kalyan and Vashi.

Current status of Ayurveda outside India

Academic institutions related to traditional medicine in India have contributed to Ayurveda's international visibility. The Gujarat Ayurved University has signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with nine Ayurvedic institutes functioning in Japan, Australia, the Netherlands, Italy, Argentina, and Germany to coordinate and facilitate the globalization of Ayurveda through academic collaboration. Earlier, Medical (Ayu) Institute of Russia had signed the MoU with the government of India, in which Gujarat Aryurved University is also one of the implementing authorities.

Ayurveda gained recognition in the Western world as medical scholars, notably , Frank John Ninivaggi MD of Yale University School of Medicine, researched and outlined its various postulates in one major textbook form suitable to Western academic science. In the United States of America, the NIH NCCAM expends some of its $123 million budget on Ayurvedic medicine research. In addition, the National Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine, established by Dr. Scott Gerson, is an example of a research institute that has carried out research into Ayurvedic practices. Gerson has published part of his work on the antifungal activities of certain Ayurvedic plants in academic journals. The postulates and history of Ayurveda have also been outlined by foreign scholars—such as Dominik Wujastyk in the United Kingdom. Questionable practices in research involving financial gains have resulted in the questioning of some of the research and cases such as the Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health have involved litigations.