Ayurveda is one of the oldest treatment systems in the world. It started in India more than 3 thousand years ago. Even today, for the treatment or prevention of any disease, Indian people use Ayurveda. In ayurvedic treatment with herbal medicines, particular types of yoga, exercise, and dietary changes are also taken.
How Ayurveda is Useful for Life?
Ayurveda has also been accepted as a traditional medicine system by the World Health Organization. The Ayurveda system of medicine can never be compared with the modern medicine system because their way of working on the body is very different from each other. While allopathic medicines are designed to fight disease, Ayurvedic treatments strengthen the body’s immune system against illness so that your body can fight against that disease itself.
What are the Basic Principles of Ayurveda?
According to the Ayurvedic principles, to be physically and mentally healthy. Ayurveda is necessary to maintain the right balance of body, mind, and soul; when this balance is disturbed, we fall ill.
According to the principles of Ayurveda, our body is made up of three main elements, which are called Dosha, Dhatu, and Mal. Complete information has been given about these elements, which are as follows – 3 Doshas. According to Ayurvedic principles, the human body is made up of three doshas, which are called Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These three doshas comprise the five vital elements: nature, fire, water, air, earth, and space. Each dosha consists of any two of these basic 5 elements and based on those elements, the process of physical work is determined.
What Element Does It Represent?
Vata: Air and Sky
Pitta: Fire and Water
Kapha: Earth and Water
What Physical Functions Does It Control?
Vata: Respiration, heartbeat, and muscle and joint function
Pitta: Metabolism, digestion, skin color, and intelligence
Kapha: Body structure and immune system
What Psychological Processes Affect Doshas?
Vata: Nervous system functions such as feeling pain, anxiety, or fear
Pitta: Hatred, anger, and hatred
Kapha: Forgiveness, Peace, Greed, and Love
Dhatu – Just like doshas, Dhatus are also made up of five elements. Dhatu is also one of the main elements that make up the physical structure. According to Ayurveda, our body is made up of seven Dhatus, hence they are also called SaptaDhatu. All these Dhatus have different functions in the body, which are as follows –
- Rasa Dhatu (Plasma)
- Rakta Dhatu ( Rakta Koshika)
- Mamsa Dhatu (Muscle)
- Meda Dhatu (Fat)
- Asthi Dhatu (Bone)
- Majja Dhatu (Bonemarrow)
- Shukra Dhatu (Reproductive tissue)
Rasa Dhatu (Plasma)
The principal element of Rasa Dhatu is water, which mainly refers to plasma. Apart from this, lymph nodes and interstitial fluid also come under Rasa Dhatu. With the help of Vata, it transmits hormones, proteins, and other nutrients throughout the body. It is the first Dhatu of the Saptadhatu.
Rakta Dhatu ( Rakta Koshika)
The second Dhatu of saptadhatu is Rakta (Blood), whose main element is fire. Rakta Dhatu consists of red blood cells, which transmit prana (life energy) to all parts of the body. It is also the function of Rakta Dhatu to deliver oxygen to all parts of the body.
Mamsa Dhatu (Muscul)
Mamsa Dhatu accelerates the muscular system of the body. Mamsa Dhatu (muscle) are those tissues of the body, which provide security to the organs. Mamsa Dhatu gets nourishment with the help of Rakta Dhatu.
Meda Dhatu (Fat)
Meda Dhatu collects energy in the body and then it is used to provide energy to the body. Water and earth are its main elements, so fat is solid and robust. Meda Dhatu also acts to lubricate the joints of the body.
Asthi Dhatu (Bone)
Asthi Dhatu includes all the bones and cartilages of the body, with the help of which it gives shape to the body. Asthi Dhatu gets nourishment from food, which makes the human body strong.
Majja Dhatu (Bonemarrow)
This Majja Dhatu refers to the bone marrow and nervous system. Majja Dhatu provides nourishment to the body and also helps in the normal functioning of all bodily functions. Regulating the metabolic process in the brain and spinal cord is also one of the main functions of the Majja Dhatu.
Shukra Dhatu (Reproductive tissue)
The seventh and last Dhatu of the Sapta Dhatu is Shukra Dhatu, which nourishes the fertility of a person. Sperm and egg also come under this Shukra Dhatu. Shukra Dhatu is related to Kapha dosha. All these Dhatus are interconnected and if any one of them does not work properly, it can have an effect on another Dhatu as well. All these Dhatu are made up of five Mahabhutas (Five Elements). If all the three doshas of your body are correct, then it helps to keep these seven Dhatus in balance and thereby maintain overall health. On the contrary, due to the imbalance of these Dhatus, various types of diseases start developing.
Mala (Stool) – Mala is a waste material removed by the human body. Mala is an important part of the physical process, with the help of which dirt is out from the body. According to Ayurveda, there are two main types of Mala-
Aahara Mala – Aahara mal mainly consists of purisha (feces), urine (urine), and Sweda (sweat).
Dhatu Mala – Dhatu Mala mainly includes fluid from the nose, ears, and eyes. Nails, Hair, Carbon dioxide, Lactic acid, etc. are also included in Dhatu feces.
Regular excretion of feces is necessary for the normal functioning of physical functions. If the excretion process is not done properly, it affects the Dhatus. As a result, the balance of the doshas gets disturbed. Many diseases begin to develop due to the disturbance of the balance of any dosha.
How Is Disease Diagnosed in Ayurveda?
Diagnosis in Ayurveda- The concept of diagnosis in Ayurveda differs from a modern medical diagnosis. Nidan in Ayurveda is a process with the help of which the body is regularly examined to determine that all the functions of the body are balanced. On the other side, in Western medicine, the diagnosis procedure is usually done to find out the reason of ill. However, in Ayurveda, the diagnosis is made when a person falls sick, to determine its cause and the appropriate treatment process for the person’s body.
According to Ayurveda, any physical disease occurs due to the disturbance of the TriDoshas or Dhatus balance, and the body's mental state. With the help of diagnosis, this imbalance is detected and then appropriate medicines are prescribed to balance it back.
At the beginning of the diagnosis, a physical examination of the patient is done, in which Ayurvedic doctors examine the affected part of the patient by touching and groping it. After this, some other tests are done, with the help of which physical condition and strength are assessed.
Doctors diagnose the disease by examining the patient’s immunity, vitality, digestive power, daily routine, dietary habits, and even mental state. For this, along with physical examination, many other tests are done, which include –
- Pulse test
- Hearing test
- Touch test
- Urine test
Treatment in Ayurveda– The treatment regimen in ayurvedic is entirely different from allopathic treatment. According to Ayurvedic rules, every person has a special energy in the body, which helps the body to recover from any disease and bring it back to a healthy state. In this, the treatment of any disease is based on the Panchakarma process, which includes medication, proper diet, physical activity, and activities to resume the body’s functioning.
This, along with curing the disease, is also treated to prevent it from developing again, that is, you can also say that Ayurveda eliminates the disease from its root. In Ayurvedic medicine, instead of fighting disease, the body’s resistance is strengthened against it, so that instead of fighting the cause of the disease, the emphasis is on the health of the body. This technique of healing by the body with its own energy is called “Svabhavaparamvada” in Ayurveda.
Ayurvedic treatment includes the following –
Ayurvedic Herbs – Ayurvedic doctor uses any herb or herb based on its following characteristics –
- Taste ( Ras)
- active effectiveness (Viriya)
- Effects on the body after digestion (Vipak)
In Ayurveda, the products made from herbs and their mixture are used by examining many different factors, such as –
The knowledge, science, and origin of the herb plant
Plant Biochemistry
Effect of herbs on the human body and mental conditions
While using any herb, care is taken that apart from the beneficial effects, what is its impact on the body. The panchakarma process is used to remove toxins from the body. This treatment process is done in different ways according to different conditions, which are as follows –
- Nasya ( Treatment of nasal diseases)
- Malish (Massage)
- Bhap kriya (Steam processes)
- Basti (Ayurvedic Enema Procedure)
- Rakta (Blood draw)
- Vamana Vidhi (to cause vomiting)
- Virechana (Ayurvedic process of defecation)
Shirodhara – In this Ayurvedic healing process, a special medicinal oil or a mixture of several oils is poured onto your forehead. According to your disease and health, Ayurvedic doctors prescribe the oil quantity and total duration of therapy.
Diet and Nutrition – In Ayurveda, the role of diet and nutrition is considered to be an essential part of the treatment of disease and subsequent recovery. In this, the diet is prescribed according to the person’s disease and physical needs. However, there are usually six tastes in which the diet is prepared –
- Namkeen – to maintain the balance of water and electrolytes in the body
- Sweet – to provide nourishment and strength to the tissues
- Tart – to improve digestion and absorption process
- Sour – to strengthen the digestive system
- Acidic taste – to improve the absorption process in the digestive tract
- Bitter – to excite all the tastes
Lifestyle Improvement and Disease Control
According to Ayurveda, a healthy lifestyle is necessary to maintain physical and mental balance. This includes your habits, behavior, diet, and the environment in which you are living. Nowadays a large number of people suffer from lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity cardiovascular diseases etc. These diseases usually develop due to poor nutrition, lack of physical activity or exercise. In Ayurveda, diet is divided into two different categories, which are known as
- Pathya
- Apathya
What is Pathya?
According to Ayurveda, a diet that gives proper nutrition to your body and does not cause any harm is called Pathya. These foods provide nutrition and protection to the tissues, allowing the body structures to develop normally.
What is Apathya?
On the other hand, the diets which do not provide any benefit or harm to the body, are called Apathya. However, the benefits and harms of all foods may vary from person to person. Keeping in mind the health diseases and other conditions, it is advisable to take and not to consume the diet.
Read more: Why You Should Add Ayurvedic Herbs To Your Daily Diet
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