Ayurveda means literally the 'science (Veda) of longevity'; because of its divine origins it can be called 'Medicine of the Gods'. It was originally a Hindu medical system and had its beginnings more than two and half thousand years ago in the sixth century before the present era (or BC.). Ayurveda soon developed outside of the strictly Hindu Community and was taken up and adapted by Buddhists and other religious groups.
Ayurveda developed at about the same time as Buddhism and Hinduism have replaced earlier ideas on disease and healing that were written down in religious texts such as Atharva Veda. Until Ayurveda came on the scene, disease was usually explained in terms of possession by various demonic disease entities.
Ayurveda maintains three essential humours, which cause disease if they become imbalanced. These three humours known as 'Vata', 'Pita', and 'Kapha' are usually translated in English as Wind, Bile and Phlegm, Occasionally in the surgical tradition a fourth humour - blood - was added. Surgery and physical Ayurveda became two separate traditions; surgery being more important amongst the Buddhists, who for one reason or another is less hung up about ritual purity and contact with taboo bodily products such as blood.
Ayurveda is an Asian Medical system, which has its beginnings in the sixth century BC and thrives even to the present-day. There was once a celebrated doctor called Charaka who lived in the second century. He was one of the greatest physicians who have ever lived. He recorded the fact that the Gods themselves were perplexed by the continued existence of disease, which was a hindrance to humanity's progress to enlightenment. These same Gods, he says, therefore prepared the way for Ayurveda, which literally means the 'science of longevity' to be taught to the human race.
Ayurveda is not just the science of curing diseases, but of preventing them too by developing immunity and well-being. The proper practice of Ayurveda ensures longevity through physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapy known as Panchakarma is the most effective way to alleviate stress and combat functional impairments of the body. Panchakarma purges the body of toxins, restores the homeostatic balance and replenishes the tissues with vitality. Traditional texts reveal that the monsoon is the best season among all seasons for rejuvenation programes. The atmosphere remains dust - free and cool, opening the pores of the body to the maximum, making it most receptive to herbal oils and therapy thereby making the treatment effective. Ages beforethe advent of modern science an ancient system of herbal therapy had catered to the most specialized health needs of people.
The Life Science has been formulated on the basis of keen observation and study of Nature, over thousands of years. The term 'Ayurveda' is derived from two Sanskrit words 'Ayus' meaning life and 'Veda', meaning Science or knowledge. It is the ancient system of Indian medicine, discovered and developed through centuries long research, by the sages who were eminent scholars after ages of endless quest.
Ayurveda is referred to as "The Manthra of Niramaya' i.e. a state of perfect health and salubrity, in a world, free from the maladies of the body and the mind. "Niramaya" refers to the dream of the mortal man, from time immemorial and Ayurveda provides the mantra for the realization of that dream.
In the narrow sense, Ayurveda refers to India's system of traditional medicine, but in the broad sense, there is a deep spiritual basis for Ayurveda. The most famous verse from Ayurvedic texts, says, "Ayurveda Amritanam" i.e. Ayurveda is for immortality. The meaning is two fold. Ayurveda is for promoting longevity without limit and it does this, from a belief that life essentially is immortal.
According to Ayurveda, the Life Energy or 'Prana' is channeled throughout the human body by a 'wind' known as 'Vata'. This 'Vata' is responsible for movement of every kind. In the human body, it is divided into five parts.
.Prana Vata, which regulates the nervous system
.Udana Vata, regulating cognitive skills, Speech and Memory
.Samana Vata, which regulates digestion
.Vyana Vata, which regulates circulation and
.Apana Vata, which regulates excretion
All these five are controlled by the first as it brings 'Prana', the life force and distributes to the rest of the body. When Prana Vata is out of balance, it results in disruption of the body system and that should be avoided.
Ayurveda can be understood from five different angles, as given below:-
Wisdom of the Gods: This myth of the Great Creator and his gracious gift to mankind implies that Ayurveda existed as sacrosanct knowledge from ageless times.
Science of the Soul: There is no substance in the world that has no medicinal value, provided one knows how to use it. Ayurveda is the supreme Symphony of Nature and knowledge, seeking to enhance the vitality of life, by drawing on the essence of Nature.
Medicine of Nature: Ayurveda sees the human body, as a unique blend of the five basic elements: sky, water, earth, air and fire. In perfect equilibrium, the body contains the Universal Consciousness' and the harmony of nature. Lack of equilibrium in the union of elements derived from nature resulted in the form of Ayurvedic medicines and treatment.
Music of Mind & Matter: Ayurveda, the Veda of life, considers man as a holistic union of body, mind and soul. Ages before the advent of modern science, an ancient system of herbal therapy had catered to the most specialized health requirements of people.
The body of Ayurveda describes the eight branches of the system:
.Kaya Chikitsa (General Medicine)
.Shalya Tantara (Surgery)
.Shalakya Tantra (Diseases of E.N.T.)
.Agada Tantra (Toxicology)
.Bhuta Vidya (Psychiatry)
.Kumara Bhuruthya (Pediatrics)
.Rasayna Tantra (Anti - ageing Therapy)
.Vajeekarana Tantra (Virjification & Sexology)
Elixir of Life: "Proper purging of the body bestows clarity to intellect, potency to organs, elemental stability and glow to the digestive fire and delays ageing" - states Vagbhata, the author of the Classical Text of Ayurveda, ASHTANGAHRIDAYA'.
vegetables, metals, minerals and animal products that are available in nature. In other words, no artificial substance is used in Ayurveda.
Treatment varies from person to person. It is not the same for the same illness, for all. It is based on the age, sex, strength, constitution, condition of the disease etc, of the patient. Ayurveda believes that, the disease is gone, once the balance is restored. Great emphasis is laid on the principles of proper diet, proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper thinking and proper meditation.
Ayurveda states that no single substance or influence can be ultimately branded as totally wholesome or unwholesome. The ideal of wholesomeness of life is represented by the myth of "AMBROSIA' i.e. the fabled food of the Gods, a drop of which in a single dose, will take away all illnesses, for ever.
From the Ayurvedic point of view, 'Ambrosia' and 'Toxin' are not structural entities; they are functional. A material, in proper union with life, is the representative of Ambrosia, whereas the same material in improper union will be regarded as `Toxin'. All ayurvedic principles have an immunological bearing.
The fundamentals of Ayurveda, state that "all human beings are born in a state of equipoise, but later lose it either through bad diet, bad treatment or moving away from the physical location most conducive to the body constitution and temperament". Ayurveda looks at the role of the physician as follows: "To understand the imbalance happening to the dynamic equilibrium of the body and to set it right by bringing back to the original state". The physician makes the patient healthy and not just treats the illness.
According to Ayurveda, the uman body is composed of three fundamental elements called, "DOSHAS" which represent the physio - chemical and physiological activities of the body, "DHADUS" which denotes the materials entering into the formation of a basic structure of the body cell, to perform basic actions. "MALAMS"are the substances which are partly used in the body and partly excreted in another form after serving their physiological activities.
Proper balance of these three 'irreducible principles' at work, in the human body, is essential. All the three are equally important, but 'Doshas' are a bit more dominant. There are three kinds of Doshas.
They are 'Vata', 'Pitta', and "Kapha', which may not be equal and same in all people. Our food habits, lifestyle etc., can be adjusted according to the body type, to maintain perfect health. The signs and symptoms, by which we can foresee an illness, are well described in the texts. How to change our lifestyle, according to the climate, is also given in the books.
Ayurveda prescribes the social norms for an individual. This helps in maintaining spiritual health and elaborates on daily routines, according to the region of the habitat, age of the person etc. Ayurveda believes that man is influenced very much by his environment, which affects his health status too. The routines include diets, habits and attitude to life. These are to be changed according to age, sex, living conditions, environment etc., these changes are required to maintain the natural resistance of the body to diseases.
Diet and dialectics is of great importance. Any abnormality in the consumption of food can cause insufficiency and upset the immune system. The Ayurvedic concept of balanced diet prescribes four different food habits called 'Hithahara', 'Satmyahara', 'Satmyaahara', 'Avirudhahara' and 'Sarvarasa', 'Samanuthahara'.
The three methods of Ayurvedic treatment are, Antharparimarjanam, Bahirparimarjanam and Sasthrapranidhanam. While 'Rasayana' is preventive in nature to maintain youth and vitality and to recover lost health, 'Vajeekarana' is curative, to improve strength, stamina and immune system.
Among other types of treatment, PANCHAKARMAS consist of five medical operations, prescribing the procedures, which are purificatory in nature. Therapeutic vomiting is artificially induced vomiting to cleanse the stomach. Purgation is done to eliminate 'Pitta' and to cleanse the intestine. Cleansing Enemas refers to mild therapy, as part of the follow - up practices for rejuvenation. Special forms of tonification therapies are done to eliminate excess substances from the body, to increase 'OJAS' or vitality and improve 'SATTVA' or mental clarity. Nasal application of herbs is called, 'NASYA', which is direct action on the nose, regarding 'Prama' affecting the brain, by setting right 'Vata' and 'Kapha' disorders.
Though the Ayurvedic texts and lessons are the same all over India, Kerala has very special types of treatments that are far more effective and widely used for certain chronic diseases.
The Kerala System of Massage Therapy has universal application and has been flourishing in this part of the country from time immemorial.
According to ASHTANGAHRIDAYA, the benefits of massage therapy are as given below:
.Nourishes the body
.Revitalizes nervous system
.Helps overcome fatigue
.Promotes undisturbed sleep
.Improves physical appearance
.Builds self-confidence
.Retards ageing process and
.Bestows long life
Popular Kerala Specialties in Massage Therapy are:
.Oil Massage & Bath (Abhyanga Snanam) for better blood circulation, relaxation of muscles and soothing effect on nervous system, ideal for busy people.
.Pinda Sweda (Njavarakizhi) for patients suffering from B.P., Cholesterol, Rheumatism, Joint Pains, Skin diseases
.Kaya Seva (Pizhichil) for nervous disorders, fracture dislocation, pain & stiffness of limbs, paralysis, arthritis
.Dhara for insomnia and mental tension/stress.
.Sirovasthi for facial paralysis, severe headaches, dryness of mouth.
.Udvarthanam - for obesity and related problems.
.Kizhi - for swelling, spondilosis, sports injuries etc.,
.Abhayangam (medicated steam bath) Snehapanam, Vasthi etc, are other effective treatments.
Dr. Joy Varghese, advisor (ayurveda), Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA)