About Ayurveda

AYURVEDA

Definition:

The word ‘Ayurveda’ is composed of two Sanskrit words, ‘ayus’ meaning ‘life’ and ‘veda’ meaning the ‘knowledge’ and together, it means the “Science of Life”. However, in a limited sense, it is always used to imply “the Science of Medicine”. Caraka has defined Ayurveda as the “Science through the help of which one can obtain knowledge about the useful and harmful types of life (hita and ahita gyus), happy and miserable types of life, things which are useful and harmful for such types of life, the span of life as well as the very nature of life.” It will be seen from this definition that Ayurveda lays emphasis upon not only leading a life which is full of happiness, which implies an individualistic attitude but also leading a life which will be useful to society as a whole. Man is a social being. He cannot withdraw from society. Unless the society becomes happy, it will not be possible for the individual to attain or maintain his own happiness. It is with this in view that the individual should always make an effort to subscribe to the happiness of the society and ayurvedic texts are replete with references to the manner in which the society can be kept happy. The social medicine which is treated as a new concept in modern system of medicine is nothing but reminiscent of what has been preached and propounded in ayurveda more than 2500 years ago.

Scope of Ayurveda:

Ayurveda does not deal exclusively with the treatment of human beings. It also deals with the treatment of diseases of animals and even plants. Thus, in ancient Iriaia, saints like Nakula, Salihotra and Parasara composed treatises on asvayurveda, gajayurveda, gavayurveda and vrksayurveda, for the treatment of ailments of horses, elephants, cattle and trees, respectively. Ayurveda provides rational means for the treatment of many internal diseases which are considered to be obstinate and incurable in other systems of medicine in vogue now-a-days. Simultaneously, it lays a great deal of emphasis upon the maintenance of positive health of a normal or healthy person. It, thus, aims at both the prevention and cure of diseases. For the purpose of prevention of diseases, the regimens one should adopt during day time, during night time and during different seasons, have been described in detail. Man is exposed to disease because of many external factors. But there are some diseases to which man is exposed even in the nature course of his living e.g. hunger, thirst, old age, etc. Ayurveda also provides measures for the prevention and control of these natural ailments.

Eight Branches of Ayurveda

The following are the eight important branches of Ayurveda:

1. Kayacikitsa or Internal Medicine;
2. Salya tantra or Surgery;
3. Salakya tantra or the Treatment of diseases of head and the neck;
4. Agada tantra or Toxicology;
5. Bhuta vidya or the management of seizures by evil spirits and other mental disorders;
6. Bala tantra or Paediatrics;
7. Rasayana tantra or Geriatrics including Rejuvenation therapy; and
8. Vajikarana tantra or Science of Aphrodisiacs.

Some scholars hold that Pancakarma chikitsa (five elimination therapies) is an additional branch of ayurveda. Several classics were composed on each one of these branches and all of them were in practice. During the advent of Buddhism, practice of ahimsa became very popular. Surgical operations (which were invariably painful) were unfortunately treated as a form of himsa (injury) and thus, the practice of surgery (salya tantra) was discouraged. This had an adverse effect on allied branches of medicine also. Thus, at present only three branches viz., kaya chikitsa (internal medicine), rasayana tantra (geriatrics including rejuvenation therapy) and vajikarana tantra (science of aphrodisiacs) are in practice and other branches of ayurveda have become only subject of history of medicine.

Unique Features of Ayurveda

The following are the unique features of the Ayurvedic system of medicine:

1. Treatment of individual as a whole. In modern medicine more attention is paid to correct the afflicted part of the body. But in ayurveda while treating a disease, the individual as a whole is taken into consideration. Not only the condition of other parts of his body but also the condition of his mind and soul are taken into account while treating the patient.
2. Medicine are inexpensive. For the most part, ayurvedic medicines are prepared from drugs which are available in the forests of the country. Therefore, these preparations are cheap.
3. No foreign exchange involved. Almost all ayurvedic drugs which include vegetables, metals, minerals and animal products, are available in India. Foreign exchange is not utilised for importing them from abroad. Even for their preparation, there is no need for foreign expertise and imported sophisticated equipments.
4. Conducive to socialistic pattern of society. In the past, physicians used to prepare their own medicines for treatment of their patents. At present, physicians are having very little time to manufacture their own medicines. Therefore, many pharmacies have been established in private and public sectors. But for the establishment of such pharmacies huge capital is not needed and most of the profit from such pharmacies goes to the labourers who collect raw drugs and put labour for the manufacture of medicines. It is, therefore, more conducive to socialistic pattern of society.
5. Free from toxicity. Ayurvedic medicines have centuries of traditional experience behind them. Therefore, they produce little toxicity in the human body. Even through certain toxic materials are used for the preparation of medicines. But they are always deto- xicated and made more acceptable to the body before They are actually administered in the form of a medicine.
6. Each medicine is a tonic. Drugs of modern medicine except vitamins and minerals, are meant for patients only. All ayurvedic medicines can be used simultaneously both by the patients and healthy persons. In patients they cure diseases and in healthy individuals they produce immunity against diseases.
7. Conducive to the customs of the people. Along with medicines very often certa. jet’and regunens ate prescribed to the patients. These diet arid regimens are on the lines of the customs and tradition of the-people. Therefore, they are not treated as alien. On the other hand, an Ayurvedic physician is respected and people repose a lot of confidence in him.
8. Psycho-somatic concept of disease. Diseases are not considered as exclusively psychic or somatic. Psychic factors are always described as causes of somatic diseases and vice versa. This has given rise to a psycho-somatic concept of all diseases in ayurveda.
9. Emphasis on preventive medicine. Ayurveda lays lot of emphasis on the prevention of the diseases. Several Do’s and Don’ts are prescribed for healthy individuals. Regimens for different parts of the day, night and different seasons for persons of different age groups and social status, are described in general detail.
10. Does not have side effects: Ayurveda medicine is without any side effect.