Basic Concepts of Ayurveda
by Life Positive
Ayurveda, a traditional holistic health care system, older than any other system of medicine, has been practiced in India for more than 5000 years.
Ayurveda, recognized as alternative medicine now, represents the science of
life and longevity originating in the Vedic traditions of India. Based on the principle of eternal
life, this holistic
health care system has a vast body of knowledge covering eight branches. Its major premise involves the symbiosis of mind, body and spirit. Any imbalance in this synthesis results in physical ailments. This ancient Indian medicine seeks to reestablish the harmony between the body and its habitat by creating the optimum
health environment.
Over the centuries
ayurveda has had a nurturing influence on ancient Chinese systems of medicine, Unani medicine, and the humoral medicine practiced by Hippocrates in Greece. The current knowledge about this ancient Indian medicine is primarily drawn from the Charaka Samhita (though there are earlier versions, Charaka Samhita in its present form is estimated to date from 1st century AD), Vagbhatta's Astanga Hridaya (approximately 500 AD), and the Susruta Samhita (the Susruta Samhita is believed to have originated in the last centuries BC, but the date of its present version is fixed by researchers at 7th century AD). These three classic texts describe the basic principles and theories from which this alternative medicine has evolved. They reflect an overwhelming wealth of clinical as well as surgical information, enriched further by later research, on the management of a multitude of diseases and ailments.
The entire science of
ayurveda is based on the 'Five Great Elements' (Panchmahabhuta) theory. These five elements are earth (prithvi), water (jal), fire (agni or tej), air (vayu) and ether or space (akash). In popular tradition, the universe is understood to be made up of these elements.
Ayurveda comprehends body, mind and spirit likewise and has specific methods for working on each. It divides the constitution of people into three humoral categories—Vata (ether/air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (water/earth). Vata rules mental mobility. Pitta, or fire, governs digestion and assimilation on all levels from food to ideas. And kapha or water governs form and substance and is responsible for weight, cohesion and stability. Using these three types in combinations of two creates six more subtypes. A seventh subtype also exists, which is a combination of all the three categories.
According to the concept of good management,
ayurveda insists that the 'fault' or dosha, the 'tissue' or dhatu and the 'impurity' or mala should be in harmony with each other, with all the components properly balanced. Any discordant note in this synthesis due to external or internal causes is a cause for concern. These are basically therapeutic measures taken either to prevent diseases or cure them. Thus ayurvedic procedures are done either to detoxify the body or as a prelude to strengthening the immune system. Panchakarma or 'five procedures', is the most sought after detoxification therapy, which paves the way for the culmination of ayurvedic treatment of healing—anti-aging (Kaya Kalpa).
