Ayurveda has 2 intentions –
- Swasthasya Swasthya Rakshanam: Preservation and conservation of health and fortifying the quality of health and life in an already healthy individual.{Preventive medicine}
- Aaturasya Vikara Prashamanam: Curing the diseased conditions and re establishing health in an ailing individual. {Curative or Therapeutic medicine}
Preventive medicine: Ayurveda strongly emphasizes on the preventive aspect of health. Health can be maintained and many diseases can be avoided if we follow discipline towards food and lifestyle.
In this Ayurveda explains in detail the rules and regulations for a righteous living. Ayurveda explains the chapters related to prevention of diseases and ways by which we can naturally keep up the health before touching the curative part. Such topics include-
- Dinacharya: Protocol for daily living. It covers many topics like – Time of awakening in the morning and the rituals to be done thereafter, brushing teeth, taking bath, gargles etc, holistic rituals like Pooja, Pravachana, Sandhyavandana etc(Worshiping God, Chanting holy hymns, Worshiping the dawn etc)Diet to be taken, activities to be carried out, etc {Recommended reading: Ashtanga Hridaya Sootra Sthana by Vagbhata, Ch 2}
- Ratricharya: Do’s and don’t,s at evening and night.
- Ritucharya: Rules and regulations and the protocol of diet and living and modes of avoiding diseases during various seasons{Protocol of seasonal living and adaptation} {Recommended reading: Ashtanga Hridaya Sootra Sthana by Vagbhata, Ch 3}
- Sadvritta: Good’s to be followed and Bad’s to be avoided for a righteous living including social living and community behaviours. {Recommended reading: Ashtanga Hridaya Sootra Sthana by Vagbhata, Ch 2}
- Achara Rasayana: Ethics of moral living which enhance the quality and quantity of life and health thus acting as a non medicinal rejuvenator. {Recommended reading: Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana Chapter 1, section 4 }
- Rogan Utpadaneeya: Body creates some natural urges and gives us the signals that it wants to throw off something which is undesired or something which needs to be put out. We have no business to interfere in the natural mechanism. If we do so, we will land up with serious and chronic disturbing disorders which might need a medical intervention. Thus we have helped the natural phenomenon’s to get abnormal. The calls which we should not miss or avoid are urges for- Passage of stools ,urine and flatus, Hunger, Thirst, Sneeze, Sleep,Cough, Exertional dyspnoea or the condition in which we become gasping after running or prolonged exercise or strenuous work, Yawning, Belching, Tears, Vomiting reflex, Sexual urge or urge to pass out the reproductive fluid etc.
- Similarly there are some impulses or urges which we need to control when our body and mind are trying to throw it out. They are Anger, Greed, Lust, Envy, Proudness, Fear, Possessiveness, etc {Recommended reading: Ashtanga Hridaya Sootra Sthana by Vagbhata, Ch 4}
- Ahara Nishta: Golden principles of diet. The explanation of these principles cannot be found at one place in Ayurvedic texts. They lie scattered and have been explained situation ally. Eg:
i. Respect your hunger and eat when the system demands for food i.e in the presence of hunger.
ii. Don’t drink water when you feel hunger and don’t take food when you are thirsty.
iii. Take food to one third of your capacity.
iv. Do not do any work or exercise or sexual acts or sleep after food.
v. Take food which is fulfilled with all good qualities and give importance to all the 6 tastes i.e
Sweet,sour, salt, bitter, astringent and pungent.
vi. Don’t follow animal instinct but be disciplined in choices of food.
vii. Eat food according to your suitability and adaptability.
viii. Making habit of taking some food suddenly or giving up something suddenly, both harmful.
A gradual practice or gradual withdrawal is always recommended.
ix. Choice of quality and quantity of food should follow seasonal principles. All foods are not
Suitable at all seasons……etc
- Vihaara Nishta: Life style and principles. {Recommended reading: Ashtanga Hridaya Sootra Sthana by Vagbhata, Ch 2/3/4}
- Nithya Upakramas: Small procedures which need to be followed daily or regularly so as to keep up the health in its natural form. Eg: Abhyanga(Massage), Samvahana(Oil smearing), Kavala/Gandoosha(Gargles and mouth wash), Nasya(Nasal medication), Anjana(Coolyrium or medicaments for the eye) etc {Recommended reading: Ashtanga Hridaya Sootra Sthana by Vagbhata, Ch 2}
- Rasayana and Vajikarana: Rejuvenating and Aphrodisiac medicines
- Nidra karma: Rules and regulations for sleep
- Brahmacharya: Noble deeds and following celibacy…..and many more.
Curative Medicine: If we do not follow the above said principles we are bound to fall sick or suffer from diseases sooner or later. We also may feel low of energy strength and immunity thus feeling the necessity of intervention. Ayurveda being a holistic science of medicine has given various formulations and treatment procedures to effectively combat the diseases in various stages. This includes:
Deepana Pachana: Ayurveda starts its treatment lineup by attending and correcting the Agni or metabolic fire as a first step. This creates a suitable environment for the medicines and diet to act towards eradication of disease and break the bonds of disease.
Shodhana: Evacuatory, cleansing or detoxifying treatments: This includes the Panchakarma or five fold cleansing mechanisms viz-
- Vamana: Therapeutic Emesis in case of diseases predominant in and caused by Kapha
- Virechana: Therapeutic Purging in case of diseases predominant in and caused by Pitta
- Vasti: Therapeutic Enema’s in case of diseases predominant in and caused by Vata
- Nasya: Nasal medications for the diseases related to head, nose, ear, nose, throat, tongue, neck, eye
- Rakta Mokshana: Blood letting therapy in cases of diseases caused by faulty blood and pitta disorders.
These treatments removes the morbid dosha’s from the body, cleanse the body, mind and senses, regularize hunger and metabolism, cleanses the channels and passages, aids natural detoxification and excretory procedures, improves health, enhances immunity and prevents recurrence.
Snehana i.e oral metered medication in the form of lipids and Swedana i.e Sudation or steaming procedures are conducted for several days depending on the condition and strength of disease and diseased, before Shodhana and it is called Poorva Karma’s. They help in liquefying and loosening the dosha’s and bringing them from the tissues to the gut, from where they are thrown out in the nearest route. Similarly procedures like Samsarjana i.e Specialised post shodana diet protocol etc are followed as post operative procedures after the Shodhana procedures. They are called Paschat Karmas.
Shamana Chikitsa: Palliative treatment in the form of herbal powders, decoctions, confectionaries, tablets, oils, ghee, diet, etc is given in conditions where Shodhana is not possible or when patients don’t suit into the Shodhana format. It is also used as prescribed medicines in the follow up of Shodhana procedures.
Rasayana Chikitsa and Balya Chikitsa: Medicines which bring about good immunity, strengthen and fortify tissues, improvise and stabilize health are given after Shodhana procedures to prevent recurrences. They are also prescribed in healthy individuals to boost immunity and keep up good health as preventive medicine.
Anya Chikitsa{Other treatments}:
Bahir Parimarjana Chikitsa: External treatments like-
- Abhyanga: Massage – as a daily procedure, relaxation technique and in therapeutic form{in conditions like Arthritis, body pains, Degenerative and Nervous disorders etc} and as Poorva karma in Shodhana.
- Udwarthana: Powder massages – in metabolic diseases like Obesity etc
- Pada Abhyanga and Shiro Abhyanga: Foot and Head massages in related conditions.
- Dhara: Pouring of medicated oils(Taila dhara), Decoctions(Kashaya Dhara),Milk (Ksheera dhara), Fermented fluids(Kanji dhara), Buttermilk(Takra dhara) etc on the whole body with or with out mild massage or head or local afflicted parts. Eg: Taila dhara or takra dhara on head is done in neurological conditions, headache, scalp psoriasis, stress, depression, insomnia etc. The same are poured on body in conditions like Degenerative or inflammatory arthritis, neurological disorders like Paralysis etc, for relaxation etc. Kashaya or Ksheera dhara on ankle joint works wonders in sprains and spur.
- Moordni Taila: Retention of oils on head: in many diseases related to head, sense organs, neurological problems, hair fall, sleeplessness etc.
- Sthanika Vastis: Oil pooling in different areas viz- Kati Vasti(Oil pooling around Lumbo sacral region in cases of low back ache, sciatica, slipped disc etc), Greeva Vasti(Around Neck in conditions like cervical spondylosis, frozen shoulder etc), Janu Vasti(Around Knee joints in cases of arthritis etc), Uro Vasti(Around chest in diseases related to heart) etc
- Pinda Sweda’s(Bolus fomentations): Medicaments are tied in the cloth in the form of bolus. They are heated on pans either dry or soaked in warm oils or milk etc as the conditions demand and the heat is provided on the areas of the body afflicted. Eg: Sand bolus fomentation- in Rheumatoid arthritis, Rice/Grain fomentation in degenerative and nervous disorders including poliomyelitis etc, Leaf bolus fomentation in Arthritis etc.
- Pancha Bhoautika Chikitsa: Treatment using Basic elements of nature like Mud therapy,Water therapy
- Bandhana and Upalepa Chikitsa: Bandaging and application of medicinal pastes, anointments and poultices.
Daiva Vyapashraya Chikitsa: Treatment done to please the Dieties and Gods like Yagna and Homa(Fire sacrifices, Pooja(Worship), Japa(Enchanting), Mani dharana(wearing rings and beads, tying threads etc after worshiping), Upavasa(fasting), Prayaschitta(confessing) etc
Satvavajaya: Psychiatric councelling and treatment.
Shastra Pranidhana: Ancient surgical procedures like Kshara Sutra i.e Alkaline thread treatment in Hemorrhoids, fistula in ano, anal fissures etc………………………………………….and many more
