treatments

Ayurveda - Recognize ourselves as an inherent part of the nature

Ayurveda is considered as the natural healing system because it cures disease with natural herbs and drugs through the way by which the harmony of human life with the nature is kept undisturbed and also by giving advices to achieve the absolute happiness through good health.

The health according to Ayurveda is not a mere state without disease, but a state in which the entire elements responsible for the creation, existence and normal functioning of body and mind are being ensured in equilibrium.

According to Darsanas (the treasure of knowledge), the body as a part of the Prakruthy (Nature) is created with the five primary elements (Panchamahabhootha) which is originated from the Moolaprakruthi. The evolution of the whole universe begins from the Moolaprakruthi by the union with Chythanya (The absolute soul).The three qualities called Sathwa, Rajas And Thamas of the Moolaprakruthi get transformed to various elements which are responsible for the formation of the universe. The Life takes origin when the Chythanya get reflected in the Rajoguna. The Pancha thanmathra (subtle form of five primery elements known as Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space) are being created from the Thamoguna. The Mind, Intellect, Five Jnanendriyas (sense organs), Five Karmendriyas (Mortar organs) and five types of Pranas (Air-Prana, Apana, Samana, Udana, and Vyana) are being formed from the same Sathwa, Raja and Thamas which are inherent in the five panchathanmathra. The above said seventeen elements evaluated from Pancha thanmathra are responsible for the origin of Sookshmasareera (subtle form of the body). The food, water and air which nourish and fueled for the normal functioning of the body are also formed by variant combinations of the five preliminary elements. Ayurveda anchored its basic principles in the depth of ocean of this eternal knowledge and is considered as the science of life, as the name indicates.

Ayurveda considers each and every aspect of life to find solutions for various sorrows and dilemma of the whole mankind. The entire world and its contents are the instruments of treatment for all kinds of miseries which worry the human race.

Lord Dhanwanthari. Brahmadeva, Devendra, Aswini kumaras(The twins- Devabhishaks), Acharya punarvasu Athreya, Acharya Agnivesa, Acharyas like Bhela, Jathukarna, Parasara, Hareetha, Ksharapani, Acharya Susrutha(Father of surgery),Acharaya Charaka, Drudabala,Vagbhata, Sargadhara, Kashyapa,Divodasa, Nagarguna,Nimi,Madhava Etc. are the Originators and Masters of Ayurveda.

Charaka Samhitha, Susrutha samhitha. Ashtanga hrudaya, Ashtanga samgraha, Sargadhara samhitha, Kashyapa samhitha,Chakradatham, Rasarathnasamuchayam,Madhavanidanam,Sahasrayoga, Arogyakalpadhruma, Bhaishajyarathnavaly, Vaidya yoga rathnavaly, Chikithsamanjari, Rasamrutham, Rasarajasindhooram, Yogarathnakaram, Rasatharangini, Rasendrasamgraham, Ayurvedaprakasam, Jyothsnika, Vaidyayogarathnavaly, Sarvarogachikithsarathnam, Arkaprakasam, Bhavaprakasam, Vruddha nighandu rathnakaram,Yogarathnakaram, Etc. are the main classical text books of Ayurveda.

The main subjects of studies of Ayurveda are given below.

• Moolasiddhanda - Basicprinciples;
• Rachana sareera - Anatomy;
• Kriyasareera - Physiology, Nidana-Diagnosis and etiology of diseases;
• Kayachikitsa - General Medicine; Salya thandra- Surgery;
• Kumarabhruthya - pediatrics;
• Sthreeroga & prasoothi thanthra - obstetrics and gynecology;
• Salakya thanthra - Deals with the diseases of head & neck (E.N.T);
• Dravyaguna - Pharmacology;
• Bhaishjya kalpana - Pharmaceutical science;
• Rasasasthra - Deals with Medicines prepared out of metals and minerals as main ingredients;
• Rasayana - Methods to curb ageing and to expand the life span;
• Vajeekarana - Treatments and medicines to improve the sexual potency and to ensure healthy offspring;
• Agadathandra - Antidotes to various kinds of poisons & jurisprudence;
• Maanasikaroga chikitsa - psychiatric treatment.
• Swasthavritham - Preventive and social medicine)

Ayurveda as a treatment system has originated and developed more than five thousand years ago. Even now in this computer age Ayurveda successfully continues its mission without any change in the basic principles. This signifies and proves the eternal relevance (Aptha vakya- the true knowledge which remains unchanged in past, present and future ) of the knowledge on which the life of science is being created.

The potential of Ayurvedic science to meet the challenges which threatens the health of human being and the well being of environment in the present age has been recognized and admired globally. The nature friendly and safe methods of Ayurvedic system of medicine is the base of this acceptance. Apart from the method of modern system of medicine to cure an ailment by pacifying the symptoms or by destroying the pathological factors which are investigated through laboratory analysis, Ayurveda empower body as well as mind to expel the etiological factors and to overcome the development of that particular disease by bringing the vitiated Doshas( Vatha, Pitha, Kapha) and dooshyas in equilibrium. This view of curing ensures recovery of disease neither by causing any hurt to the normal functions of body nor by causing any harmful side effect of the treatment.

Despite the concept of modern system about the body as a physical matter, Ayurveda observes it as the instrument for the functions and duties of the life to be fulfilled. Life is a combined existence of physical body, sense organs, mind and soul. They are the instruments of life too. We experience the physical nature through the objects of senses like sound, touch, vision, taste and smell. Sense organs receive the present data only from the objects. Mind processes the data conveyed from the sense organs and connect it with both past and future. Thus the knowledge obtained through our keen observation of even the minutest form of universe is mere perception received from the limited permitted areas of sense organs only. So it is impossible to gain the absolute knowledge about the universe by the research or analysis based on the perception received through the sense organs. The instrument to gain even the deepest knowledge of any object is mind. With a mind which can realize the inner sense as well as strictly restricted and concentrated its course exclusively to aim the subtle universe through constant meditation, can percept vivid magnificent powers with peculiar purpose. Further proceeding in the same route with constant and uninterrupted penance, the minds loses its existence and get dissolved in the absolute wisdom which is nothing but the absolute self itself.

The true knowledge (Aptha vakya) dealt in Darsanas as obtained by the great sages who could realize and merge themselves in the absolute soul through penance, is the basic principle of existence of human being and universe. Thus the Ayurvedic science which based on the Darsanas is able to break the limitations of time and an eternal existence.

It does not mean that Ayurveda is some thing mysterious and has only philosophical background. Ayurveda has everything which is essential for a medical science like detailed anatomical studies (Rachana sareera), functional studies of viceras and other organs (Kriya sareera), deep analysis of properties of medicinal drugs as well as food materials (Dravyaguna), climatic studies (rithu), properties of different regions of earth and environmental studies (Desam) , clinical studies of all medicines and their preparation (Bhaishajyakalpana),valid knowledge of preventive and social medicine(Swasthavritham), perfect knowledge of clinical methods(Nidana), surgical studies (salya thandra), detailed and separate studies of Obstetrics, Pediatrics, Gynecology, E.N.T, Geriatrics(Rasayana), Sexology (Vajeekarana), study of various psychological disorders (Manasika rogas ) etc. are included in Ayurveda. Concepts of Ayurveda about pathological micro-organisms and the communicable diseases are also included with due importance.

Ayurveda, derived from the soul of the universe as Amrutha in hand of Lord Dhanwanthari emerged from Milk Ocean, offers nothing less than ultimate happiness and complete wisdom. What does immortality otherwise mean?

Dr.Aniyan Lal .P.K BAMS
'A' Class Registered Medical Practitioner