Ayurveda a brief understanding
In Sanskrit, Ayurveda means “The Science of Life.” Ayurvedic knowledge originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is often called the “Mother of All Healing.” It stems from the ancient Vedic culture and was taught for many thousands of years in an oral tradition from accomplished masters to their disciples.
With the enormous knowledge of nature based medicine, the relationship of human body constitution and function to nature and the elements of the universe that act in coordination and affect the living beings, this system will continue to flourish in ages still to come.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda believes that the entire universe is composed of five elements: Vayu (Air), Jala (Water), Aakash (Space or ether), Prithvi (Earth) and Teja (Fire). These five elements (referred to as Pancha Mahabhoota in Ayurveda) are believed to form the three basic humors of human body in varying combinations.
Reliability
India has a rich history of traditional system of medicine based upon six systems, out of which Ayurveda stands to be the most ancient, most widely accepted, practiced and flourished indigenous system of medicine.
Today
An integration of the knowledge of modern analytical techniques with a broader perspective for applications of Ayurveda principles helps in its wider acceptance globally today.
Ayurveda is not at all generic
Ayurveda has experienced a considerable shift in its paradigm and a significant change in the outlook of researchers, towards its applications has occurred. The therapeutic principles of Ayurveda focus on prakriti and tridoshas, and these principles explain that every individual has his unique constitution called as prakriti.
- Prakriti determines the characteristic response of each individual to medications, environmental conditions and dietary factors.
- ‘Ayurgenomics’ a recently introduced research field, bridges this gap between genomics and Ayurveda and serves as an aid in understanding of inter-individual differences in responses to therapies in various diseases.
- A correlation of dominant prakriti with the Body Mass Index (BMI) and place of birth in individuals is the methodology now being adopted for making Ayurveda more effective.
The Elements
The Ayurveda system of medicine is based upon the principle considering that the human body is constituted from the five elements of the Universe like the pancha mahabhootas.
- The physical, moral and physiological well-being of an individual is governed by 96 factors.
- These 96 factors include perception, speech, diagnosis of pulse etc.
- Treatments are always not just cure but the permanent eradication of the disorder.
Basic Fundamentals
Ayurveda believes that the human body consists of Saptadhatus (seven tissues) Rasa (tissue fluids), Meda (fat and connective tissue), Rakta (blood), Asthi (bones), Majja (marrow), Mamsa (muscle), and Shukra (semen) and three Malas (waste products) of the body, viz. Purisha (faeces), Mutra (urine) and Sweda (sweat).
- The catabolism of the body is believed to be governed by Vata, metabolism by Pitta and anabolism by Kapha.
- For a healthy state of health, a balance between the three doshas and other factors should be maintained.
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In Ayurveda it is believed, that a perfect balance between the nature elements and the Tridoshas of the human body should be maintained for a healthy state of living by following the principles of divine wisdom.
The Revival
Ayurveda has a rich history; however there were certain drawbacks in approaches towards it, which inhibited its growth like the western system of medicine.
- The active components of the herbal drugs prescribed were not known, and even today many drugs still need further exploration for their active constituent characterization and elucidation of the mechanism of action. Re-emphasising the need for ayurvedic treatment to be implemented as it is.
- A merit of traditional medicine systems is that, they consider every individual as the prime focus of treatment rather than the disease, in persual of the total eradication of the disorder.
- Ayurvedic applicability of medications on a general population basis is not an encouraged practice.
