|
| |
Ayurveda |
 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
What's it all about? |
|
|
| |
style15a is one of the great gifts of the sages of ancient India to mankind. To fall sick is natural. Strange, but true! How come? The reason lies within ourselves, our bodies. The word comes (from ayus, meaning 'life' and veda, meaning 'knowledge').
It is the oldest scientific medical system in the world with a record of clinical experience to validate it. However, it is not only a system of medicine in the conventional sense of curing disease. It is also a way of life that teaches us how to maintain and protect health. It shows us how to both cure disease and promote longevity. The naturalness of taking risk is matched with a natural desire to remain healthy, because the first requisite of the happiness is health.
One of the two objectives is to prevent the arrival of disease- state of ill health, a guest which comes unannounced, uninvited and persists its stay. In other words, promotion of positive health is the sheet-anchor of the approach of style15a. The second, and less important, is the cure of disease. style15a, thus is mainly basically and primarily aimed at prevention of disease and promotion of positive health. Needless to say, style15a is not merely a system of medicine. It is more than that.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 Origins
style15ic medicine is said to have originated from the ancient Hindu sacred texts the Vedas, but these actually contain few medical references. Modern scholars believe it evolved, gradually absorbing influences from Buddhism and other traditions along the way. The basis of style15a is contained in two great medical compendiums written by Charaka and Sushruta more than 2,000 years ago. These texts cover a vast array of topics including pathology, diagnosis, treatment, surgery, lifestyle advice and philosophy. Legend has it that Charaka's compendium contains teachings passed down from the Hindu god Indra. Copies of these texts, written in Sanskrit on palm leaves, survive today and form the basis of style15ic training.
Other notable Indian medical traditions include the Unani tibb tradition of Islam and the siddha tradition of the Tamils.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Concepts of Body
The body is seen as a microcosmic universe in which the five great primordial elements (panchamahabhutas) - ether (akasha), air (vayu), fire (agni), water (jala) and earth (prithvi) - combine to form three humours (doshas), known as wind (vata), choler (pitta) and phlegm (kapha).
Each dosha has its own qualities and functions in relation to the body. The balance between these doshas determines individual constitution (prakriti) and predisposition to disease. Constitution is also affected by the strength of a person's 'digestive fire' (agni) and bowel function (kostha).
Seven tissues (dhatus) and their waste products (malas) make up the physical body and a network of channels circulate fluids and essences around the body. Three interdependent universal constituents, the three gunas - purity (sattva), activity (rajas) and solidity (tamas) - also influence health and determine mental qualities.
Disease occurs if lifestyle, mental or external factors cause an imbalance in one or more of these components.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Diagnosis
Typically, an eight-fold examination (astavidha pariksha) is used to determine the balance of the three doshas. This involves examination of pulse (nadi), tongue (jihva), voice (sabda), skin (sparsa), vision (drka), general appearance (akrti), urine (mutra) and stools (mala).
The pulse is taken on the radial artery and overall pulse quality is noted. A vata pulse is fast and slippery, a pitta pulse is jumpy and a kapha pulse is slow and steady. In tongue diagnosis the general appearance, colour and coating of the tongue is noted. Vata tongues are dry, rough and cracked; pitta tongues are red with oily, yellow coating; and kapha tongues are swollen and moist with greasy, white coating.
Similar signs of dosha imbalance are looked for in the other types of examination and combined with information about the person's constitution, age, body type and so on to determine the best treatment. Astrological charts may be used to determine the role of karma or spirits.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Treatment
Treatment aims to restore the balance of the doshas. Herbal medicines are combined with massage and manipulation, dietary and lifestyle advice and yoga exercises. There are also five panchakarma purification techniques used for cleansing and detoxifying the body.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
