Ayurveda

Ayurveda (Sanskrit: ayuÑlife; vedaÑknowledge of) or ayurvedic medicine is a
more than 6,000 year old comprehensive system of medicine based on a
holistic approach. Ayurveda also had a tradition of surgery. Two early texts
(from centuries BC) of Ayurveda are the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta
Samhita.

The Charaka and Sushruta Samhit?s are compendiums of two traditions rather
than texts authored by single authors. A third tradition is that of the
K?shyapas. The beginnings of these traditions must go to the second
millennium BC if not earlier because of the parallel information obtained in
the Vedic Samhit?s and the description in the Mah?bh?rata. There is much
that is common in the texts, except that the Sushruta Samhit? is richer in
the field of surgery. Part of the original Charaka Samhit? is lost, and the
current version has several chapters by the Kashmiri scholar Dridhabala.

An attempt to reconcile the texts of Charaka and Sushruta was made by
V?gbhata the Elder in second century BC in his Asht?nga Sangraha. The works
of Charaka, Sushruta, and the Elder Vagbhata are considered canonical and
reverentially called the Vriddha Trayi, "the triad of ancients." Later,
V?gbhata the Younger wrote the Asht?nga Hridaya Samhit? which is a lucid
presentation of the ?yurveda giving due place to the surgical techniques of
Sushruta. In the eighth century, M?dhav wrote his Nid?na, which soon assumed
a position of authority. In the 79 chapters of this book, he lists diseases
along with their causes, symptoms, and complications.

Ayurveda used inoculation for protection against smallpox. This was a
consequence of the principle that like cures like on a small level, whereas
at a grosser level opposites cure opposites. Ayurveda has employed certain
toxic substances in small dosages for powerful healing effects, including
its alchemical preparations. It also used various herbal and animal toxins
like snake venoms. It has a whole science of toxicology called agada-tantra
as one of the eight branches of traditional Ayurveda. This branch not only
treated poisons but used them in certain conditions generally small doages.
The Ayurvedic idea is that the organism adapts to the environment and its
food, climate etc. This principle of adaptation is called satyma. Through
introducing small amounts of a germ, the organism can adapt to it and learn
to resist it.

Ayurveda became increasingly symptom based, treating the symptoms of a
disease rather than the root cause. However, it is important to note that
Ayurveda was originally a consciousness based system of health care. Its
philosophy, expressed in modern terms, is to strengthen the immune system.

The 3 main doshas (organizing qualities of intelligence) are Vata (resembles
the classical elements ether and air), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (water and earth).

Having lost state patronage during the British rule in India, Ayurveda is
making a slow comeback. In practice in India, Ayurvedic doctors use it in
combination with Western medicine.

Ayurvedic treatments in the West are primarily dietary and herbal. Patients
are classified by body types, or prakriti, which are determined by
proportions of the three doshas. Illness and disease are considered to be a
matter of imbalance in the doshas. Treatment is aimed at restoring harmony
or balance to the mind-body system. Vata, composed of air and space, governs
all movement in the mind and body and must be kept in good balance. Too much
vata leads to "worries, insomnia, cramps and constipation.... Vata controls
blood flow, elimination of wastes, breathing and the movement of thoughts
across the mind." Vata also controls the other two principles, Pitta and
Kapha. Pitta is said to be composed of fire and water; it governs "all heat,
metabolism and transformation in the mind and body. It controls how we
digest food, how we metabolize our sensory perceptions, and how we
discriminate between right and wrong." Pitta must be kept in balance, too.
"Too much [Pitta] can lead to anger, criticism, ulcers, rashes and thinning
hair." Kapha consists of earth and water. "Kapha cements the elements in the
body, providing the material for physical structure. This dosha maintains
body resistance....Kapha lubricates the joints; provides moisture to the
skin; helps to heal wounds; fills the spaces in the body; gives biological
strength, vigor and stability; supports memory retention; gives energy to
the heart and lungs and maintains immunity...Kapha is responsible for
emotions of attachment, greed and long-standing envy; it is also expressed
in tendencies toward calmness, forgiveness and love." Too much Kapha leads
to lethargy and weight gain, as well as congestion and allergies.

On the basis of the above metaphysical physiology, Ayurveda recommends such
things as: to pacify Kapha eat spicy foods and avoid sweet foods. Avoid
tomatoes and nuts. If you've got too much Pitta then try this: eat sweet
foods and avoid the spicy. Eat nuts. To reduce Vata: eat sweet, sour and
salty foods; avoid spicy foods. Nuts are good and so are dairy products.

Ayurvedic medicine is gaining in popularity around the world. There are a
number of medical schools that teach Ayurveda.

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