Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a time tested five millennium old Indian Medical science, originated from India and extended its wings in various parts of the world. The aim of Ayurveda is the prevention and treatment of disease. It is having fundamental explanations about human body (Shareera- structure and function), health, disease, drugs, treatment, and prevention aspects.

Etymologically, Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word formed by union of Ayu + veda. Ayu means life and Veda means science. So Ayurveda is a life science that is biology. But, Ayurveda is restricted to human medical science. It is precursor to modern medicine. It is described in anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, treatment and prevention.

Historically Ayurveda is a upaveda (auxiliary knowledge) to Atharva-Veda. It was taught in Gurukula system in ancient days. It is now evolved into under graduate & post graduate courses from Institutions, governs by National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM).

Sarvam dravya pancha bouthikam

Everything in the body and universe contains only physical matter of pancha buthas, not more else.

Dosha dathu mala moolam hi shareeram.

Human body contains karana dhatu dravyas (structural body tissues), karya doshas mala dravyas (functional body molecules).

1) Aim of Ayurveda

"swasthasya swaasthya rakshanam aturasya vikara prasamanam"

The aim of Ayurveda is:

1. To protect the health of a healthy person- 'swasthasya swaasthya rakshanam' &
2. To treat the disease of a diseased person- 'aturasya vikara prasamanam'

2) Ayurveda defines Aarogya (Health) as:

"sama dosha sama agnis cha sama dathu mala kriya",
"prasanna athma indriya manah swastya ithi abhideeyathe"

1) Shareera samatva- Physical- dathu, dosha, agni, mala kriya

"sama dosha sama agnis cha sama dathu mala kriya"

• Dathu samyatha- normal built of body structure (cells, tissues and systems)
• Dosha samaytha- normal range of chemical messengers
• Agni samyatha- normal range of enzymes
• Mala kriya samyatha - normal elimination process of metabolites (metabolic waste products)

2) Mano indriya prasannata- wellbeing of mind and senses- prasanna indriya manah

Indriya prasannata - pleasant sensory perception
• mano prasannata - pleasant cerebral function- controlled arishat varga emotions

3) Atma prasannata- prasanna athma- wellbeing of individual life experience with the Society and environment

Ayurveda defines HEALTH (Arogya) is pleasant state of Body, Mind, Emotions and Life experiences.

• Aarogya is the normal physical built of dathus (tissue) and its normal metabolic activity with the normal range of dosha (panchabhoutika karya dravyas), agni (enzymes) and malas (metabolic waste products) and the mental (indriya mano prasannata) and social (athma- individual life experience in the society) wellbeing.

WHO defines Health is not merely the absence of disease but a physical, mental, and social well-being

3) Trivida upasthabhas: Three Major factors for Maintenance of Health

Three basic factors (pillars) for maintenance of health- ahara, nidra, brahmacharya. Achieving and maintaining health is an ongoing process, shaped by both the evolution of health care knowledge and practices as well as personal strategies and organized interventions for staying healthy. Lifestyle disorders occur due to irregularities of trivida upastambas.

1. Ahara (Diet)- An important way to maintain your personal health is to have a healthy diet. A healthy diet includes a variety of plant-based and animal-based foods that provide nutrients to your body. Such nutrients give you (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals) to build body and to keep body running with chemical messengers, enzymes and energy. Nutrients help build and strengthen bones, muscles, and tendons and also regulate body processes (i.e. blood pressure).
2. Nidra (Sleep)- Sleep is an essential component to maintaining health. In children, sleep is also vital for growth and development. Sleep deprivation has been shown to correlate with both increased susceptibility to illness and slower recovery times from illness. People with chronic insufficient sleep were found to be four times more likely to catch a cold. Due to the role of sleep in regulating metabolism, insufficient sleep play a role in weight gain or, conversely, in weight loss. Additionally, shiftwork that involves circadian disruption is probably carcinogenic to humans.[49] Individuals who habitually sleep outside the normal range may be exhibiting signs or symptoms of serious health problems.
3. Brahmacharya (basic physical activities and or abstinence)- basic physical activity and exercise enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It strengthens muscles and improves the cardiovascular system. According to the National Institutes of Health, there are four types of exercise: endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance.

4) Charecteristics of Doctors (Vaidya lakshanas)

Ayurveda is more than a mere system of treating illness. It is a science of life , this system knows the importance of a doctor, as many verses are dedicated to them. Such as:

प्रयोगज्ञानविज्ञानसिद्धिसिद्धाः सुखप्रदाः|
जीविताभिसरास्ते स्युर्वैद्यत्वं तेष्ववस्थितमिति||५३|| (SS-11/53)

Prayoggyanvighyansidhisidhah sukhpradah,
jivitabhisraaste syurvaidhyatvam teshva vasthitamiti

Doctors who are accomplished in the administration of therapies, insight and knowledge of therapeutics, are endowed with infallible success and can bring happiness to the seeker. They are saviors of life.

Guna of Vaidya (Qualities of Physician ):

"तत्त्वाधिगतशास्त्रार्थो दृष्टकर्मा स्वयंकृती।
लघुहस्तः शुचिः शूरः सज्जोपस्करभेषजः॥
प्रत्युत्पन्नमतिर्धीमान् व्यवसायी विशारदः।
सत्यधर्मपरो यश्च स भिषक् पाद उच्यते"॥ २० (सुश्रुतसंहिता)"

A doctor (Vaidya-physician) who is

• a) Theoretical-Well versed in science of Ayurvedic medicine
• b) Practical- Drushtrakarma
  o who has attended and performed of surgeries, and
  o who seen the treatments and gained experience
• c) Shuchi (clean), Shaurya (Courageous)
• d) Laghuhasta (stable handling skills),
• e) Fully equipped with medicine, surgical instruments and
• f) Visharad- who manages emergencies

The doctor should possess theoretical and practical knowledge, have resources, endowed with moral values, and who got BAMS, MS, MD from Institutions, and enrolled is eligible and fit for practice as physician and surgeon.