Ayurveda and its parts

Vedic medicine, considered one of the oldest systems of medicine in the world, was developed in India during the period 2000-1000 B.C. The seers of ancient India used their observation, experience and natural resources to develop a unique system which they named Ayurveda, or the “science of life”. Ayurveda word is combination of two Sanskrit words – Ayur and Veda. Ayur means “Life” and Veda means “Knowledge”.

Ayurveda (आयुर्वेद) is a Sanskrit word means Life-knowledge. Ayurveda is very popular among Indian Subcontinents but popularity is also increasing in other parts of world, due to not having major side effects. Ayurveda is being practicing throughout Indian subcontinents from more than 5000 years. Some of the oldest known ayurvedic texts include the Susrutha Samhita, Charaka Samhita.

Ayurveda describes the beneficial, non beneficial, happy and unhappy aspects of life. Health is Happiness and Disease is Unhappiness. Health is defined as the state of equilibrium of dosha (humours), agni (digestive juices, enzymes and hormones), dhatu (tissues) and the normal excretion of mala (waste materials), along with a happy state of atma (soul), indriya (sensory and motor organs), and manas (mind).

Ayurveda states that a balance of the three elemental substances, the Doshas, equals health, while imbalance equals disease. Three doshas are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Each human possesses a unique combination of these doshas which define this person's temperament and characteristics known as Prakriti of a Person. Each person has his own Prakriti, unique combination of these three doshas.

Each person has a natural state, or natural combination of these three elements, and should seek balance by modulating their behavior or environment. Decrease or increase in any of dosha lead to disease or balance lead to health. Another view present in the ancient literature states that dosha equality is identical to health, and that persons with imbalance of dosha are proportionately unhealthy, because they are not in their natural state of balance.

Our body is made-up of five elements known as Maha Panch Bhutas i.e. Pritvi (earth), Jal (water), Agni (fire), Vayu (air) and Akash (space). Seven basic Dhatu mentioned in ayurveda is Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda, Asthi, Majja and Shukra.  In Ayurveda, all substances are considered to inherent with 20 types of Gunas (characteristics). These are in 10 pairs of antonyms: heavy/light, cold/hot, unctuous/dry, dull/sharp, stable/mobile, soft/hard, non-slimy/slimy, smooth/coarse, minute/gross, viscous/liquid.

In classical Ayurvedic Texts, Ayurveda’s has been described in eight departmental components known as Astang (अष्टांग). These Astang is basis of Ayurvedic Treatment.

Ø  Kayachikitsa: Cure of diseases affecting the body

Ø  Kaumara-bhrtya and Bala Roga: Treatment of Children

Ø  Shalya Tantra: Surgical Procedures

Ø  Salakya Tantra: Cure of diseases of Nose, Teeth, Ear or Eyes etc.

Ø  Bhuta-Vidya (Non visible or not explained causes like micro-organism and spirit etc.

Ø  Agada Tantra: Destruction of Poison

Ø  Rasayana Tantra (Rejuvenation)

Ø  Vajikarana Tantra (Aphrodisiacs)

Body transport fluids with the help of Srotas (Channels) and ensuring the proper functioning of these Srotas is one of main part in Ayurvedic Treatment, because improper functioning of Channels cause disease. Oil massage and Swedana is practiced to open up these Srotas (Channels).