Ayurved - Ayu - means the Life
Ved - (Vid) - to know
Hence, the Science which gives knowledge of life is Ayurved. |
Ayurveda is
India's own system of traditional medicines which was looked down upon
till yesterday but now it is once gaining importance the world over mainly
because of the limitations of allopathy medicine system in providing cures
without serious after effects. |
Ayurveda is
a science of life - "Ayu" means Life and "Veda" means Science. This holistic
and natural healing system was developed by highly spiritual "Rishi -
Saint" 5000 years ago. It is a multifaceted science which addresses not
only the problems of body and mind but also of the human spirit and consciousness.
This ancient science of medicine operates in tune with nature and treats
the whole individual rather than just a disease. The individual is considered
as a whole - "physically, mentally as well as spiritually". Before suggesting
any treatment to any individual, Ayurveda considers psychological, dietary,
behavioural, life style and environmental factors. |
| Ayurveda
originated in India long back in the pre-vedic period. Rigveda and Atharvaveda
(written 5000 years B.C.) the earliest documented ancient Indian knowledge
have reference on health and disease. |
| Ayurveda
is having eight disciplines and are generally called "Asthanga Ayurveda"
and they are : |
| |
Allopathy
Branch |
Ayurveda
Equivallent |
| 1 |
Internal
Medicine |
Kaya
Chikitsa |
| 2 |
Pediatrics |
Kaumar
Bhritya |
| 3 |
Psychiatry |
Bhoot
Vidya |
| 4 |
Otorhinolaryngology
& Ophthalmology |
Shalakya |
| 5 |
Surgery |
Shalya |
| 6 |
Toxicology |
Agad
Tantra |
| 7 |
Geriatrics |
Rasayana |
| 8 |
Eugenics
& Aphorodisease |
Vajikarana |
|
(Compendia
on these subjects like "Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita" etc.) |
| Life
in Ayurveda is conceived as the Union of body, senses, mind and soul. |
The living
man is a conglomeration of three humours ( 'DOSHA' ) - VATA, PITTA & KAPHA,
Seven basic tissues ( 'DHATU' ) - RASA, RAKTA, MAUSA, MEDA, ASTHI, MAJJA
and SHUKRA and waste products of the body such as Face, Urine and Sweat. |
The growth
and decay of this body matrix and its constituents revolve around food
which gets processed into humours, tissues and wastes. Ingestion, digestion,
absorption, assimilation and metabolism of food have an interplay in health
and disease which are significantly affected by psychological mechanisms
as well as by bio-fire (Agni). |
According
to Auyrveda all objects in the Universe including human body are composed
of five basic elements (Panchamahabhutas) namely Earth, Water, Fire, Air
and Ether (Vaccum). |
The growth
and development of the body depends on its nutrition i.e., on Food. The
food in turn is composed of the above five elements, which replenish or
nourish the like elements of body after the action of bio-fire (agni).
The tissues of the body are the structural elements where as the humans
are physiological entities, derived from different permutations and combinations
of "Panchamahaphutas". |
|
