1.
WHAT IS AYURVEDA?
"AYURVEDA" is made up of two words-Ayuh and Veda. Ayuh
means life and Veda means knowledge or science. Thus "AYURVEDA’
in totality means ‘Science of life’. It incorporates
all aspects of life whether physical, psychological, spiritual
or social. What is beneficial and what is harmful to life, what
is happy life and what is sorrowful life; all these four questions
and life span allied issues are elaborately and emphatically discussed
in Ayurveda. It believes the existence of soul before birth and
after death too.
2. WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF AYURVEDA?
Ayurveda, the ancient most health care system originated with
the origin of universe. With the inception of human life on earth
Ayurveda started being applied. The antique vedic texts have scattered
references of Ayurvedic Remedies and allied aspects of medicine
and health. Atharva-veda mainly deals with extensive Ayurvedic
information. That is why Ayurveda is said to be the off shoot
of Atharva Veda.
3. WHAT IS THE AYURVEDIC VIEWPOINT
OF STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF BODY?
Universe as well as human body are made up of five basic elements
colectively called ‘Panch Mahabhootas’. These are
Aakash (Ether), Vayu (Air), Agni(Fire), Aapa (Water) and Prithvi
(Earth). The sixth mandatory component of life is Atma (life spirit)
without which life ceases. The human body is made up of Doshas
(Bio-humours), Dhatus(Body matrix) and Malas (excretable products).
Vata, Pitta and kapha, known as Tridoshs are physiological entities
of the body which are responsible for carrying out all the functions
of the body. Dhatus are the structural entities of thebody. These
are Rasa (Plasma), Rakta (Blood cells), Mamsa (Muscular tissue),
Meda (Fatty tissue), Asthi (Bony tissue), Majja (Bone marrow)
and Shukra (Hormonal and other secretions of genital). Agni (Metabolic
fire) is in thirteen different forms and carries out the whole
metabolism of the body. The waste products of the body which are
excretable are produced in the body as bye-products of metabolism.
These are known as malas which include pureesh (faeces), Sweda
(sweat) and Mutra (urine). All biotransformations within the body
occur through Srotases (body channels) which are the sites for
action of agni.
4. WHAT IS THE BASIC PHILOSOPHY
OF HEALTH, DISEASE AND TREATMENT IN AYURVEDA?
As per Ayurveda, ‘Health’ is a state of equilibrium
of normal functions of doshas, Dhatus, malas and Agni with delighted
body, mind and soul. It means that when Dosh-Dhatu-Malas and Agni
are constantly in a state of functional equilibrium, then the
health is maintained. Otherwise distortion of the equilibrium
results into diseases. Erratic lifestyle is believed to be one
of the basic causes behind the failure of mechanism of maintaining
equilibrium.
Treatment either with or without drugs and application of specific
rules of diet, activity and mental status as described, disease
wise, brings back the state of equilibrium i.e. health.
5. HOW IS DIAGNOSIS DONE IN
AYURVEDA?
Diagnostic procedures in Ayurveda are two pronged; one is aimed
to establish the state and type of pathology and second to decide
the mode of treatment tobe applied. The former implies examination
of the patient and make different investigations to diagnose the
disease entity. Inspection, palpation, percussion and interrogation
are the main modes of physical examination. The second type of
examination is to assess the strength and physical status of the
individual so that accordingly the type of management required
could be planned. For this examination of Prakriti (Body constitution),
Saar (Tissue quality), Samhnan (physique), Satva (Mental strength),
Satamya (specific adaptability), Aaharshakti (diet intake capacity),
Vyayaam shakti (exercise capacity) and Vaya (age) is done. On
the basis of this examination the individual is decided to be
having Pravar bal (excellent strength), Madhyam Bal (moderate
strength) or Heen Bal (low strength).
6. WHAT ARE THE MODES OF AYURVEDIC
TREATMENT?
There exists eight divisions of Ayurvedic therapeutics, namely
Kayachikitsa (Internal medicine), Shalya (Surgery), Shalkya (Otorhinolaryngology
and Opthalmology), Kaumr Bhritya (Paediatrics, Gynaecology and
Obstetrics) Agad tantra (Toxicology), Rasayana (Gerentorology),
Vajikaran (Aphrodisiacs) and Bhoot Vidya (Psychiatry).
The principles of treatment are Shodhan (purificatory), Shaman
(palliative and conservative), Nidan parivarjan (avoidance of
causative and prescipitating factors of disease) and Pathya Vyavastha
(do’s and don’ts regarding diets lifestyle). Shodhan
therapy includes Vamana (medically induced emesis), Virechana
(medically induced laxation), Vasti (medicated enema), shirovirechana
(administration of medicines through nose) and Raktmokshan (Blood
letting). These therapeutic procedures are collectively known
as Panchkarma. Before executing Panch karma treatment Snehan (olation)
and Swedan (getting perspiration) are to employed first.
7. WHAT ARE THE MAIN CLASSICAL
REFERENCE BOOKS OF AYURVEDA?
The main classical texts for reference of Ayurvedic principles
comprise of Charak Samhita, Susrut Samhita, Astang Hridaya, Sharangdhar
Samhita, Madhav Nidan, Kashyap Samhita, Bhavprakash and Bhaisajya
Ratnavali etc.
8. WHERE DO RAW MATERIALS FOR
MANUFACTURING AYURVEDIC MEDICINES COME FROM?
What ever is natural whether belonging to plants or animals or
minerals: all are considered the source of raw material for Ayurvedic
medicines. However 600 medicinal plant products, 52 minerals and
50 animal products are commonly used.
9. HOW ARE AYURVEDIC MEDICINES
MARKETED?
Ayurvedic medicines are marketed in various forms. The main ones
are tablets, pills, powders, fermentation products (Asva-arishta),
decoctions, medicated fats (Ghrita and Tel). For topical use drops,
creams, lotions, liniments and ointments are available. Dried
plant extracts in capsule form are also in use presently.
10. IS THERE SCOPE FOR AYURVEDA
IN THE CONTEMPORARY PERIOD?
Ayurveda has
a wide scope as far as the prevention of disease, promotion of
health and its preservation are concerned. Lifestyle rules mentioned
in Ayurvedic texts if applied rigorously give definite results.
Lifestyle related diseases, drug abuse, degenerative diseases,
auto immune diseases and certain metabolic and allergic disorders
are well manageable with Ayurvedic techniques and medicaments.
11.
IS THERE ANY RATIONALE BEHIND INTEGRTING AYURVEDA AND WESTERN
MEDICINE?
Because of multidimensional wide range of efficacy of Ayurvedic
treatment, where certain disease conditions or symptoms become
refractory to conventional treatment, a harmonised approach of
these two systems of health care has proven to be successful and
fruitful. Sometimes Ayurveda helps for a synergistic activity
while at other places to antagonise and minmise the toxicity of
modern drugs.
13. DOES AYURVEDIC SYSTEM OF
MEDICINE HAVE PLUS POINTS OVER CONVENTIONAL MEDICINAL SYSTEM?
Being holistic and disease eradicative with principles of individualised
treatment, condusive to socio-economic conditions of India and
with availability of abundance of formulations for any particular
disease, use of food items as medicine and lifestyle rules, Ayurveda
enjoys a better place in respect of prevention and cure of the
disease is concerned in comparison to western medical system.
19. Can one take Ayurveda Medicine
with modern medicines?
If not indicated
otherwise by the attending physician, Ayurveda Medicines can generally
be taken alongwith allopathic medicines. Moreover, Ayurveda Medicines
are used as adjuvant to allopathic medicines in most of chronic
and degenerative diseases. As such there is no harm to consume
simple herbal formulations of Ayurveda even without the prescription
of the doctor but mineral based medicines must be used after due
consultation and advice of the doctor.
20.What are the common Ayurveda
Medicines which can be used without consulting the doctors?
Simple herbal medicines
like powders, pills & tablets , syrups and decoctions can
be used for the management of common ailments like cough, cold,
fever, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, body
& joint pains etc, even without the prescription of a doctor.
Similarly, herbal tonics/ health foods can also be consumed if
the same do not create any alarming discomfort or upsets.
