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 Ayurveda, (Sanskrit for “science of life”), form of alternative medicine based on the principle that disease is caused by an imbalance of life forces. Derived from spiritual visions received by Indian rishis (Sanskrit for “seers of truth”) 5000 years ago, Ayurveda is the oldest existing system of medical practice and is regarded by proponents as a complete way of life aimed at spiritual, mental, and social well-being as well as physical health.
The keystone of Ayurvedic medicine is the constitution of the individual. Ayurveda identifies three basic metabolic body types corresponding to three basic life energy forces, or doshas. Each person’s constitution is seen as a mixture of these doshas. Advocates of Ayurvedic medicine believe health is a balance of these energy forces, resulting in harmony of body, mind, and spirit in the individual as well as between the individual and the outer forces of the environment and society.Ayurveda does not seek to treat the symptoms of disease; instead, it seeks to restore the underlying balance of the doshas. The Ayurvedic practitioner diagnoses a patient’s constitutional type and imbalances through such techniques as questioning, specialized pulse measurements, and observation of the tongue, eyes, nails, face and skin, voice quality, urine, and breath odor. The practitioner then makes specific recommendations to bring the doshas back into balance. Ayurvedic therapies focus on lifestyle changes and herbal remedies, concentrating on diet, exercise, yoga, meditation, massage, herbal tonics, steam baths, enemas, and other alternative medical practices such as aromatherapy. Special cleansing therapies such as bloodletting and blood-thinning herbs are also used to rid the body of disease-causing toxins.
Ayurveda is considered useful in supporting many other kinds of treatment programs. Proponents believe it is a preventive as well as a curative therapy that can strengthen the immune system against disease. Changing lifestyle habits can improve persistent problems such as back pain, arthritis, tension headaches, high blood pressure, obesity, constipation, allergies and colds, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and other stress disorders.
Ayurveda is also known as 'Ashtanga Veda' (the word literally means 'Eight branches of knowledge') as it is divided into eight specialized branches.
They are as follows:
| 1 |
Kaya Chikilsa |
General medicine |
| 2 |
Kaumara Bhritya |
Pediatrics |
| 3 |
Graha Chikilsa |
Psychiatry and Psychosomatic diseases |
| 4 |
Shalakya Tantra |
Diseases of Eye, Ear, Head, Nose, Throat and related surgery |
| 5 |
Shalya Tantra |
General Surgery |
| 6 |
Agada Tantra |
Toxicology |
| 7 |
Rasayana Chikilsa |
Rejuvenation Therapy |
| 8 |
Vajeekarana Chikilsa |
Aphrodisiac Therapy |
Salient features of Ayurveda.
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Natural and herbal health care system |
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Totally safe. |
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Body, mind, spirit health care system for long creative life. |
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Treats the whole person and eliminates the cause of the disease. |
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Emphasis in preventive medicine. |
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Effective treatments to detoxify the body. |
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Highly perfected rejuvenation treatments. |
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Herbal cure for the diseases. |
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Preventive as well as curative treatments. |
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Basis of Ayurvedic health care. |
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Human being is a microcosm (small universe) that is part of macrocosm. |
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Rhythm or life is intimately connected with the rhythm of the universe. |
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Diseases are due to improper eating and life style ignoring ones special body type, environment and age. |
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By establishing perfect balance between inner and outer world body, mind and spirit would be in perfect health. |
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Human body has the power to heal itself. |
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