How Ayurveda works? | Dosha | Therapies | Nutrition

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Ayurveda, which means "Science of Life", is one of the oldest medical systems in existence, dating back to pre-Vedic times (i.e., before 5,000 B.C.). It is a holistic approach to health, which was taught in the ancient universities of Takshashila and Nalanda, and has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an effective system of medicine.

Around 1,000 B.C., its fundamentals were documented in its' classic treatises - Charaka Samhita (a compendium of medicine) and Sushruta Samhita (a compendium of surgery). These reveal the presence of a school of physicians, Atreya Sampradaya , a school of surgeons, Dhanvantri Sampradaya, and 8 clinical specialities:

• Internal Medicine ( Kaya Chikitsa )
• Paediatrics, Gynaecology and Obstetrics ( Kaumar Bhritya )
• Psychiatry ( Bhoot Vidya )
• Otorhinolaryngology and Ophthalmology ( Shalakya )
• Surgery ( Shalya )
• Toxicology ( Agad Tantra )
• Geriatrics ( Rasayana )
• Eugenics and aphrodisiacs ( Vajikarana )

About 600 drugs (of plant, animal and mineral origin) are described in these treatises, as are m ore than 100 kinds of surgical instruments (including scalpels, scissors, forceps, specula) and a variety of surgical procedures (incision, excision, extraction, bandaging, and more). Other topics, like anatomy, physiology, aetiology, prognosis, pathology, embryology, toxicology, treatment and medicine are also covered.

During its early period, Ayurveda enjoyed the unquestioned patronage of the people and their rulers. Then followed a long period of utter neglect due to turbulent political conditions and foreign invasions. During this period, Ayurveda barely survived - its growth was stunted, its teaching stopped and its practice discouraged. The surge of nationalist pride during the freedom struggle led to a revival of support for Ayurveda. Post-independence, Ayurveda was officially recognized and became a part of the National Health network of the country, with the same status as Allopathy. As the West discovers Ayurveda, India is awakening to its value in helping the country reach its goals of Health for all. Publication of the Ayurvedic Formulary (Part 1, 2) and Pharmacopoeia (Part 1, 2, 3) is relatively recent. There is a new interest in Ayurveda remedies, especially for lifestyle related diseases, degenerative and psychosomatic disorders. Simultaneously, there is a recognition that Ayurveda has been successful in reversing chronic conditions, regarded as being incurable as per conventional allopathy.

Ayurveda is practiced all over India, but the most authentic experiences are in the Ayurveda Shalas of Kerala on the South Coast. You can choose to undergo treatment for a particular ailment, or simply rejuvenation therapies to slough off the stresses of modern living.

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HOW AYURVEDA WOKS

Rather than simply treating symptoms of illness, Ayurveda goes deeper, to find out the root cause(s) - physical, mental, emotional - since it is only by removing the cause(s) that there will be a lasting cure. F ailure to address the cause(s) will, according to Ayurvedic theory, inevitably lead to failure of the treatment. In fact, Ayurveda looks at the whole issue of health differently from modern medicine. Ayurveda does not consider lack of symptoms to be health. It is not that Ayurveda neglects relief of symptoms, rather that its main focus is on the big picture: to restore health and help prevent illness in future. Thus, it deals with both the preventive and curative aspects of health - which is exactly the same approach propounded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the modern era.

According to Ayurveda all objects in the universe, including the human body, are composed of five basic elements ( panchamahabhutas ): earth ( prithvi ), water ( aapa ), fire ( agni ), air ( vayu ) and ether ( aakash ), added to the life spirit ( atma ). These combine in different proportions to form the 7 basic tissues, structures or dhatus: plasma ( rasa), blood ( rakta), muscle (mansa), fat (meda), bones (asthi), bone marrow (majja), hormones and secretions (s hukra ) and 3 basic humors, functions or doshas ( vata, pitta, kapha ). Metabolic fire ( agni ) is in thirteen different forms and carries out the whole metabolism of the body. The excretable waste products of the body, malas , which include faeces ( pureesh ), sweat ( sweda ) and urine ( mutra ) are produced in the body as by-products of metabolism.

Health depends on the proper balance of all these elements. Sickness is caused by an imbalance, due to external and internal factors, like lack of exercise, stress, seasonal changes, bad eating habits. Food replenishes these elements, and its ingestion, digestion, absorption, and assimilation play a critical role in affecting health.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnostic procedures in Ayurveda are two pronged - (a) to establish the disease and pathology, which is done by physical examination (inspection, palpation, percussion and interrogation), investigations, study of the patient's mental disposition, resistance, vitality, daily routine, dietary habits, personal, economic and environmental situation. (b) to decide the mode of treatment to be applied, which is done by examining body constitution (prakriti), tissue quality (saar), physique (samhnan), mental strength (satva), specific adaptability (satamya), diet intake capacity (aaharshakti ), exercise capacity ( vyayaam shakti ) and age (vaya) is done. On the basis of this examination the individual is decided to be having excellent strength (pravar bal), moderate strength (madhyam bal) or low strength (heen bal), and recommendations are made accordingly.
In Ayurveda, there are no universal remedies. Ayurvedic physicians, vaidyas , don't treat diseases, they treat people and view each individual as unique. For instance, Ayurveda recognizes not two, but 20 types of diabetes, and treats each differently. Or, in the case of obesity, t he first thing that an Ayurvedic doctor will look for is the reason why a person is obese - it could be due to a thyroid problem, other hormone imbalances, impaired liver function, diabetes, poor nutrition, poor eating habits, psychological factors or simply over indulgence in food. To just put the person on a strict diet would be meaningless when the problem is due to liver malfunction. Or the strict diet could provoke the psychological insecurities that caused over-eating in the first place.

Broadly, treatment consists of (a) restoration of balance of the basic elements, through medicines, regulation of diet and lifestyle changes (b) avoidance of causative factors responsible for imbalance.
There are 6 types of treatment :

(a) Shodhana - internal and external purification, using the processes of medically induced emesis, purgation, oil enema, decoction enema and nasal administration of medicines ( panchkarma) . Panchkarma is preceeded by external and internal oleation and induced sweating. Shodhana therapy is especially helpful in neurological disorders, musculo-skeletal disease conditions, certain vascular or neuro-vascular states, respiratory diseases, metabolic and degenerative disorders.

(b) Shamana - use of palliatives and sedatives (like appetizers and digestives), as well as exercise and exposure to the sun and fresh air, to restore the balance of the humours ( doshas ).

(c) Pathya Vyavastha - changes in respect of diet, activity, habits and emotional status, with a view to optimize digestion and assimilation of food so as to enhance the effect of therapeutic measures.

(d) Nidan Parivarjan - avoidance of causative, precipitating and aggravating factors of known diseases, through changes in diet and lifestyle.

(e) Satvavajaya - use of psychology and psychiatry to treat mental disorders. Includes cultivation of memory and concentration.

(f) Rasayana therapy - use of immunomodulators and rejuvenation medicines to promote strength, vitality, and immunity against disease.

Ayurvedic medicines are delivered in a variety of forms: tablets, pills, powders, fermentation products (asva-arishta), decoctions, medicated fats (ghrita and tel). Drops, creams, lotions, liniments and ointments are used for topical application. Dried plant extracts in capsule form are also in use.

In India, the commercial manufacturing of Ayurvedic medicines is regulated, and manufacturers require a prior license from the State Drug Controlling Authority before they can run an Ayurvedic Pharmacy. Formulations (both classical and proprietary) have to be approved by the competent authority before they can be commercially manufactured.

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WHICH DOSHA

Ayurveda believes that each of us is a unique blend of the 3 doshas (functions) - vata , pitta and kapha.

Vata, the moving force, moves food through the digestive system, is active in the flow of thoughts and involved in blood circulation.

Pitta , the transformative force, is most active in the digestive system, and lends determination and focus.

Kapha , the binding force, oversees lubrication (including gastric juices and fluids in the joints).

All doshas are active at all times, but in varying degrees. Take our test to find out your most active dosha.

POWERING YOUR DOSHA

As the table indicates, each dosha rules a time of day, season, and stage of life. Each has a seat in the body and each imbalance manifests with certain symptoms.

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TREATMENT PROGRAMMS

SLIMMING PROGRAMME (STHANLYAKINA CHIKITSA)
Recommended Duration: 28 days
This includes two types of massages (1) medicated herbal powder massage (2) medicated herbal oil massage. These two massages will be given for 28 days. This program also includes medicated steam bath, intake of herbal juices and herbal tea. A very special Ayurvedic diet is advised during the treatment period.

REJUVENATION THERAPY (RASAYANA CHIKILSA)
Recommended Duration: 14 days
This treatment includes body massage with hand and foot by two masseurs with medicated oil and cream, internal rejuvenative medicines and medicated stem bath. This therapy is for 90 minutes to 2 hours per day for 7 to 14 days. This therapy is to rejuvenate mind body and soul, to tone up skin, to strengthen all systems so as to achieve ideal health and longevity.

BODY PURIFICATION THERAPY (SHODHAN CHIKILSA)
Recommended Duration: 14 days
It is a process of purifying the whole body to attain proper balance of vatha, pitha and kapha based on the panchkarma and swethakarma treatment.
The 14 days package process include body massage, snehapanam, nasyam, virechanam(medicated purgative), snehavasthi, dhara, pizhichil, njavarakizhi, karnapooranam, tharpanam, sirovasthi, steam bath, Herbal drinks and internal herbal medicines.

BODY IMMUNIZATION / LONGEVITY TREATMENT (KAYAKALPA CHIKILSA)
Recommended Duration: 14 days
This is the prime treatment in Ayurveda for reducing ageing processes, arresting the degeneration of the body cells and immunisation of the system. Giving RASAYANA ( Very Special Ayurvedic Medicine) internally is the main part of this programme, based on the panchakarma and swethakarma treatment. The 28-day package process includes body massage, snehapanam, virechanam, nasyam, snehavasthi, dhara, pizhichil, njavarakizhi, tharpanam, sirovasthi, karnapooranam and medicated steam bath. This treatment is best effective if taken before the age of 60, for either sex.

PSORIARIS TREATMENT PROGRAMME (SIDHMA CHIKILSA)
Recommended Duration: 14 days
This is an effective treatment for all types of sporaris. This special Ayurvedic treatment programme last for 21 to 28 days. This programme includes special lapanam, abhyangam, snehapanam, pizhichil, medicated steam bath and sirovasthi along with exclusively prepared internal herbal medicines.

PIZHICHIL
Recommended Duration: 14 days
In this treatment, lukewarm herbal oils are applied all over the body by two to four trained masseurs in a special rhythmic way for about 60 to 90 minutes per day for a period of 7 to 21 days. This treatment is very useful for Rheumatic diseases like arthritis, paralysis, hemiplegia, paralysis-agitanus, sexual weakness, nervous weakness and nervous disorders etc.

NJAVARAKIZHI
Recommended Duration: 14 days
It is a process by which the whole body or any specific part thereof is made to perspire by the application of certain medical puddings externally in the form of boluses tied up in a muslin bag. This is applied by two to four masseurs for about 60 to 90 minutes per day for a period of 14 days. This treatment is for all types rheumatism, pain in the joints, emaciation of limbs, blood pressure, cholesterol and certain kinds of skin diseases.

DHARA
Recommended Duration: 14 days
In this process, some herbal oils, medicated milk, medicated butter milk etc., are poured on the forehead in a special method for about 45 minutes in a day for a period of 7 to 21 days. This treatment is mainly for insomnia, vatha predominated diseases, mental tension and certain skin diseases.

VASTHI
Recommended Duration: 14 days
Certain herbal oils, herbal extracts etc., are applied through the rectum daily for a period of 5 to 25 days. This treatment is for arthritis, paralysis, hemiplegia, numbness, gastric complaints associated with rheumatism and constant constipation.

SIROVASTHI
Recommended Duration: 14 days
Certain lukewarm herbal oils are poured into a cap fitted on the head for 15 to 60 minutes per day according to the patient’s conditions for a period of 7 days. This treatment is highly effective for facial paralysis, dryness of nostrils, mouth and throat, severe headaches, burning sensation of head and other vatha originated diseases

UDVARTHANAM
Recommended Duration: 14 days
This is a typical massage with herbal powders for about 30 minutes daily for a period of 14 to 28 days. This treatment is for the diseases like hemiplegia, paralysis, obesity (excess fat) and certain rheumatic ailments.

ABHYANGAM
Recommended Duration: 14 days
Special type of oil massage in which strokes are given according to the diseases for 45 minutes per day for 14 days. This treatment is very useful for obesity, especially for diabetic Gangrene (a condition due to lack of blood circulation in the extremes of the body) etc.

NASYAM
Recommended Duration: 14 days
Herbal juices, medicated oils etc., are applied through nose for 7 to 14 days. This treatment is highly effective for certain kinds of headaches, paralysis, mental disorders, certain types of skin diseases etc.

SNEHAPANAM
Recommended Duration: 14 days
Medicated ghee is given internally in a proportionally increased quantity for a period of 8 to 12 days. This treatment is for osteo arthritis, sporaris, leukaemia etc.

KIZHI
Recommended Duration: 14 days
Herbal leaves and herbs or herbal powders are applied to the whole body in boluses with hot medicated oils for 45 minutes per day for a period of 7 to 14 days. This treatment is for osteo arthritis, arthritis with swelling, spondilosis, sports injuries etc.

DHANYAMLA DHARA
Recommended Duration: 14 days
Warm herbal liquid is poured all over the body in a rhythmic way through a special vessel for 45 minutes to 1 hour daily. This treatment is very effective for hemiplegia, paralysis, rheumatic complaints etc.

YONI PRAKSHALANAM
Recommended Duration: 07 days
Herbal oils and decoctions are applied through the vaginal route. This treatment is good for gynecological disorders. It is also a purification process for genital organs.

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Nutrition
Ayurveda believes that food, including its ingestion, digestion, absorption and assimilation, plays a vital role in ensuring balance of the elements in the body, and that poor nutrition is the main cause of disease. "Without proper diet, medicines are of no use; with proper diet, medicines are unnecessary." Therefore it attempts to prevent and heal disease by redressing imbalance in nutrition.

It is important to note that there are no such things as "Ayurvedic foods". Nor is Ayurvedic nutrition an endless repetition of curries. In fact, Ayurveda has no universal diets revolving around the six food groups (fats, carbohydrates, proteins, calories, vitamins and minerals). Instead, there are personalized dietary programs that take into account body tissues, water and salt levels, electrolytes in the body, properties of food, properties of the individual, and balance of the six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, astringent). This fits in with the Ayurvedic approach - that we are all different (and therefore we digest and assimilate food differently), so there can be no similar program of nutrition that is best for everyone.

In its approach to nutrition, as with its approach to health generally, the ancient science of Ayurveda is surprisingly modern. Just as Ayurveda deals with both the preventive and curative aspects of health - exactly the approach propounded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the modern era, it recommends individualized dietary programs - just what today's nutritionists say works best.