Ayurveda is the oldest healing science in the world. Derived from its ancient Sanskrit roots- ‘Ayu’ (life) and ‘Veda’ (wisdom), offering the holistic and natural approach to a healthy life. It is said that this is a God given science to Mankind. The creator, Brahma, taught it to the Daksha Prajapati. From whom it is taught to the divine twins-Ashwinikumars. They taught Ayurveda to Lord Indra. When Mankind started suffering from various diseases the wise men like Bharadvaja learnt from Indra the knowledge of medicine.
The main source of knowledge in this field remains in the Vedas, the holy scriptures of Ancient India, more specifically the Atharvaveda or the eight Vedas that dates back to around 1000 BC.
During this time Ayurveda was developed into eight branches and two schools: Atreya, the school of physicians and Dhanvantari, the school of surgeons. The chanting of mantras and religious aspect of medicines in the Vedas was gradually supplemented by observations based on scientific thinking. The material scattered in the Vedas was collected, subjected to rigid test of efficacy and rearranged. Such compilations are called ‘Samhita’ which is written in Sanskrit.
The three oldest Samhitas are Charak Samhita, Sushrut Samhita and Ashtang Hridaya Samhita.
Gradually the huge amount of knowledge accumulated was divided systematically into eight different branches called Ashtanga Ayurveda.
| Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine) | It deals with prevention, aetiology, prognosis and management of disease. |
| Shalya Tantra (Surgery) | Various surgeries are mention in this book. The first plastic surgery was described in the Sushrut Samhita. |
| Shalakya Tantra (Ear, Nose, Throat and Eye Diseases) | The Ayurvedic branch of Ophthalmology and Oto-Rhinolaryngology. |
| Kaumarbhritya (Pediatrics) | This branch deals with prenatal and postnatal infant and toddler care and with the care of the mother before conception and during pregnancy. Ayurveda describes the methods for conceiving child. Various diseases of children and their treatment come under this branch. |
| Agada Tantra (Toxicology) | This branch deals with the toxicity and purification of herbs, the mineral and animal products. |
| Bhuta Vidya (Psychiatry) | Ayurveda is equally concerned with mental diseases and their treatment. Treatment methods include not only diet and herbs, but also yogic methods for improving state of the mind. There is ample material for research on this branch in the Atharva Veda and in other Ayurvedic chapters. |
| Rasayan (The Science of Rejuvenation) | This therapy is used to prevent diseases and to promote healthy living. |
| Vajikarana (The Science of Aphrodisiacs) | This branch deals with increasing sexual vitality and efficiency. For achieving a healthy and intelligent progeny, the therapy of Rasayana and Vajikarana are closely interrelated. Vajikarana medicines also act as rejuvenatives. |
Among the eight philosophies – Sankhya Philosophy of creation and manifestation has the greatest influence on Ayurveda. All creation is an expression of pure consciousness, which is beyond time and space, shape and qualities. When pure consciousness (Purusha) unites with primordial energy (Prakriti) the “dance of creation” comes alive.
All matter is composed of five basic elements (Panchamahabhutas) which exhibit the properties of Earth (Prithvi), Water (Aap), Fire (Agni-teja), Wind (Vayu) and Space (Akasha). These elements always exist in a combination, in which one or more elements dominate. According to Ayurveda, the human body is composed of derivatives of the five basic elements, in the form of Doshas (Humors), Dhatus (Tissues) and Malas (Water products).
Dosha
Mahabhutas combine to form subtle energies called Doshas. Five Mahabhutas give rise to three Doshas. Doshas are all pervasive, subtle entities and are categorized into Vata, Pitta and Kapha. They govern the physiological functions of the body; Vata regulates movement and is represented by the nervous system. Pitta is the principle of transformation and is the cause of all metabolic processes in the body. Kapha is the principle of cohesion and functions through the body fluids. Together, these three doshas determine the physiologic constitution of an individual called Prakruti.
Dhatus
The tissues are classified into seven categories: plasma, blood cells, muscular tissue, adipose tissue, bony tissue, bone marrow and the reproductive tissue.
Malas
The three main waste products are urine, faeces and sweat.
The Harmony of Dosha, Dhatu and Malas create the basic foundation of Ayurveda.
Modern Look at Ayurveda
In 2001, US Surgeon General David Satcher stated the 60 percent of all illness is diet related. Ayurvedic practitioners can treat diseases by providing a menu of treatments that improve digestion and prescribe the right combination of food tailored to a person’s particular constitution.
Holistic healing and education is one of the fastest growing fields in the country. Increasingly, Americans are seeking alternative medicine as a primary or complementary therapy. The province of a dedicated minority, alternative medicine has once gained mainstream support. In the past year, Americans spend over $228 million on alternative therapies and 50 percent have seen an alternative medical practitioner. These figures are growing exponentially, as the prohibitive cost of western medicine and its inherent focus on symptoms, rather than causes has drawn millions to alternative medicine and its comprehensive therapies. People are accessing a rapidly growing network of natural medicine practitioners and resources. Integrative medicine is now viewed by many as the answer to America’s spiraling healthcare costs and rising incidence of chronic disease.