Ayurveda, the science of life

Evolved around 600bc in India. The word ‘Ayurveda’ originates from two root words “Ayu & Veda”. ‘Ayu’ means life & ‘Veda’ means the knowledge i.e. Science of life is ayurveda. It’s a complete naturalistic system of medicine. The aim of this science is prevention of diseases as well as curing them.

“Swasthasya Swaasthya Samrakshanam Athurasya Vikara Prasamanam”

i.e. Maintaining the Health of a Healthy Individual & To Cure the Ailment of a Diseased Person.

Ayurvedic science has close relation with the great Indian culture. It is the traditional health science of India. It is considered as an upaveda of adarvaveda followed by Aryans and Dravidians, it is followed ever since. Ayurveda is more than just a medical system. It follows the laws of nature to bring the individual back into equilibrium with their true life. It teaches us “how to live “or “how to lead a perfect life” or “how to maintain a healthy body and mind”. This treatment takes the man as whole i.e. body and mind. These two things are related to each other. Without a healthy mind there won’t be a healthy body and vice versa.

Principle of Ayurveda

It is based on Tridosha Theory i.e. The humors of our body called Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The equilibrium of these three humors maintains health, and vitiation of any one of these causes’ diseases.

Ayurveda consider human body is made up of five major elements called ‘ pancha maha bhootas’. They are ether (akasha), air (vaayu), fire (agni), earth (prithvi), water (jala).

These Tridoshas, Vata Pitta & Kapha got originated from Pancha Maha Bhootas. I.e. vata originates from ether and air, pitta from fire and water, kapha from prithvi and water.

Of these only vata has got the ability of movement. By this property it governs or direct the nerve impulse, circulation, respiration and elimination. Pitta helps in metabolism ie anabolism and catabolism. Kapha helps in growth and protection in the form of body fluid like Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF) in the brain and spinal cord. Ayurveda takes not only the disease into consideration, but the individual is taken as a whole. It uses the natural herbo minerals in the treatments.

The ‘Ayu’ includes a combination of body, mind, senses and soul. The healthy state of these promotes a healthy individual.

Ayurvedic Genesis

The ancient science “Ayurveda” which got its origin from our great sages or Acharyas. There were different opinions about its origin. On close study we can understand the fact that this great science had originated by the time since the world came into existence.

According to our Acharyas, who propagate this treatment and theories, it got its origin from Lord Brahma, the creator of all living beings. He gave this theory to Daksha Prajapati; he then gives this to Aswani Kumaras, then to Lord Indra and so on. He gives the secret of Ayurvedic science to his disciple with a great wish to cure the diseases of humans in the earth and to make them to lead a healthy life.

In ancient period it has been studied as Gurukula manner but now these changes into a great extent. Now there were separate colleges for studying this medical science under the degree “Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery” (BAMS).

It has got 8 divisions i.e. ‘Ashtangas’
They are:

Kaya chikilsa ( general medicine)

Bala Chiliksa ( pediatric medicine

Graha Chikilsa ( psychiatric medicine)

Urdwanga Chikilsa ( ENT)

Salya chikilsa (orthopedic, surgery etc)

Damshtra (Forensic & toxicology)

Jara (Rasayana Chikilsa / Rejuvenation therapy)

Vrisha ( Vajeekarana Chikilsa / aphrodisiac treatment)