AN OVERVIEW OF AYURVEDA FUNDAMENTALS OF AYURVEDA

• • Most ancient science of the world.
• • Considered as Upaveda (subsidiary) of Atharva Veda.
• • Vedas are oldest recorded wisdom on the earth.
• • Ayurveda survived through two sets of original authentic texts.
• • Each set consisting of three books.
• • Written in Samskrit and deals with all aspect of health, disease and treatment.

AYURVEDIC TEXTS

• VRIHATTRAYI
  • ( Three big books)
  • • 1. Charaka Samhita
    • (600 BC)
  • • 2. Sushruta Samhita
    • (500 BC).
  • • 3. Samhitas of Vagbhata
    • (600 AD)
• LAGHUTRAYI
  • ( Three small books)
  • • 1.Madhav Nidana
    • (900 AD)
  • • 2.Sarangdhar Samhita
    • (1300 AD)
  • • 3. Bhav Prakash
    • (1600 AD)

APPROACH OF AYURVEDA *PHILOSOPHICAL * HOLISTIC *HUMANISTIC AYURVEDA IS More Life and Health oriented than Disease and

• Treatment Ayurveda presents a total Life Science and visualizes the total health to the total human being in a holistic way.

AYURVEDA

A complete Promotive, Preventive and Curative System of Medicine

Eight Major Clinical Specialities of Ayurveda

• • 1. Kaya Chikitsa ( Medicine)
• • 2. Shalya Tantra (Surgery)
• • 3. Shalakya (Diseases of Eye & ENT)
• • 4. Kaumarbhritya (Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Gynaecology)
• • 5. Bhuta Vidya (Psychiatry)
• • 6. Agad Tantra (Toxicology)
• • 7. Rasayana Tantra (Nutrition,Rejuvenation & Geriatrics)
• • 8. Vajikarana (Sexology)

Methodology by which the knowledge of Ayurveda has perceived PRAMANAS

• 1. Pratyaksha (Direct perception)
• 2. Anuman (Logical perception)
• 3. Aptopadesh (Verbal & authentic documentary testimony)
• 4. Yukti (Experimental evidences)

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN Ayurveda and Modern Medicine

• AYURVEDA
  • # Experiential Science.
  • # Holistic or Totalistic.
  • # Functional oriented science.
• Modern Medicine
  • # Experimental Science.
  • # Analytical approach.
• # Structure or organ oriented.
  • LOKA PURUSHA SAMYA
  • (Macrocosm- Microcosm continnum)
  • *INDIVIDUAL * UNIVERSE

Pancha Mahabhutas PANCHMAHABHUTAS

• 1. AKASHA ( Eather / space)
• 2. VAYU (Air / motion )
• 3. TEJA ( Fire / radiant energy )
• 4. JALA (water / cohesive factor )
• 5. PRITHVI ( Earth / mass )

LOKA PURUSHA

Constant interaction To Maintain Homeostasis Life (Ayu) and Panchamahabhuta Theory

• LIFE (Ayu)
• ATMA (Conscious element)
• INDRIYA (Senses)
• SATTVA (Psyche)
• SHARIRA (Physical Body

The Theory of Tridosha

• Panchamahabhuta Biological applications of

Panchamahabhuta

• VAYU
• AKASHA
• TEJA
• JALA
• PRITHVI
• VATA (Motional energy)
• PITTA (Chemical activities) KKAPHA (Solid substratum)

The Theory of Trigunas

Panchamahabhuta Gunas of Mind (Psyche)

• VAYU
• AKASHA
• TEJA
• JALA
• PRITHVI
• SATVA GUNA (STATE OF COMPLETE BALANCE)
• RAJAS GUNA (DYNAMICITY & ACTIVITY) TAMAS GUNA (MASS ENERTIA)
• Genetically determined relative proportion of DOSHAS within the normal range
• Determine the total Personality
• (Physique, Physiology & Psyche)

DOSAJA PRAKRITI

• Doshaja Prakriti should be considered in
• • Understanding of human life.
• • Health status.
• • Disease susceptibility.
• • Preventive & promotive health care.
• • Treatment.

SWABHAVOPARAMVAD (Self Healing)

• Human body is inherently endowed with an unique power of
• SELF DEFENCE
  • SPONTANEOUS HEALING (against injury and disease)
• Role of Medicine
  • To assist the Nature
  • BASIC CAUSES OF DISEASE
  • FAILURE OF HARMONY
  • BETWEEN
  • MAN(Purusha) & ENVIRONMENT (Loka)
  • Normally interaction between Loka and Purush takes place at the level of Three factors
• KALA
  • (Time factor and its chronological influence)
• BUDDHI
  • (Intellect of man as the major source of thought information)
• INDRIYARTH
  • (Objects of 5 sense organs are sourse of stressfull informations
  • From environment
  • Ayoga
  • Atiyoga
  • Mithya yoga
  • KALA
  • BUDDHI
  • INDRIYARTH
  • Kal Parinam
  • Pragyaparadha
  • Asatmendriyarth

AYURVEDIC APPROACH OF CURE

• 1. DAIVVYAPASHRAYA CHIKITSA
• (Devine Therapy)
• 2. YUKTIVYAPASHRAYA CHIKITSA
• (Rational Treatment)
• i. Samshodhan ii. Samsaman
• (Purificatory therapy) (Curative Treatment)
• 3. SATTVAVAJAYA (Psychotherapy)
• • Samshodhana includes Panchakarma therapy, rejuvenation and apphrodisiac techniques
• • Samshamana includes uses of healing herbs and approaches to achieve optimum health

PRAKRITI AYURVEDIC CONSTITUTION

• WHY TWO PERSONS
• ARE NOT SAME ?
• PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY
• PRAKRITI
• Determine the total Personality
• (Physique, Physiology & Psyche)
• Genetically determined relative proportion of DOSHAS within the normal range.
• WHAT IS PRAKRITI ?

WHY IT IS ESSENTIAL TO KNOW ABOUT PRAKRITI ?

• • Understanding of human life.
• • Health status.
• • Disease susceptibility.
• • Preventive & promotive health care.
• • Treatment.
• PRAKRITI
  • PHYSICAL (SHARIRIKA)
  • MENTAL (MANASIKA)

FACTORS  ON WHICH THE PRAKRITI DEPENDS

• • Nature of Sperm and Ovum of the parents.
• • Kala (Time factor)
• # Time of fertilization.
• # Season of fertilization.
• • Nature of Garbhashaya (Uterus).
• • Ahara (Diet) and Vihara (Mode of Life) of mother.
• • Nature of Mahabhutas (Five basic elements).

• Nature of Sperm and Ovum of the parents.

• • Sperm and Ovum having definite proportion of Doshas.
• • Dominancy of Doshas show their impact in formation of Prakriti.

V=4, P=2, K=2 VATA Prakriti

Kala (Time factor)

• • # Time of fertilization. * Dominancy of Dosha at the time of fertilization (day/night hours).
• • # Season of fertilization.
  • * Adana Kala (Late winter, Spring, Summer)
• – Fetal development may be affected.
• * Visarga Kala ( Rainy, Autumn, Early winter)
• -Endows strength for mother and child, both

Mother should follow the rules according to season (in relation to Prakriti)

• Nature of Garbhashaya (Uterus).
  • • Normally developed.
  • • Normal physiological functions.
  • • Position of Placenta.
• Ahara (Diet) and Vihara (Mode of Life) of mother.
  • • The diet of pregnant woman should be according to her Prakriti.
  • • Improper diet and mode of life
• Vitiation of Doshas
• EFFECT ON THE STATUS & CONSTITUTION OF FETUS

Nature of Mahabhutas (Five basic elements)

• • Nature of Mahabhut comprised the fetus.
• • Five basic elements:
• * Akasha (Ether/ space).
• * Vayu (Air).
• * Agni (Fire).
• * Jala (Water).
• * Prithvi (Earth).
• • These elements combine in different proportion to form biological entities-
• *VATA
• *PITTA
• *KAPHA

The VATA

BASIC FACTS:

• • Made up of Akasha (space) & Vayu (air).
• • Vata is self originated, subtle and all pervasive.
• • It sustains the body.

Physical Properties of Vata It is –

• • dry( ruksha),
• • cold (shita),
• • subtle (sukshama),
• • light (laghu),
• • unstable (chala) and
• • rough (khara).

PITTA

• • RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL TYPES OF TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE BODY

Physical Properties of Pitta

• • Liquid.
• • Light.
• • Viscous.
• • Acrid.
• • Sour.

NORMAL FUNCTIONS OF PITTA

• • Intellectual functions.
• • Imparts colour.
• • Production of heat.
• • Promotes digestion.
• • Vision.

KAPHA

• • CONSISTS OF PREDOMINETLY BY JALA (WATER) & EARTH (PRITHVI) ELEMENTS.
• • MORE STABLE THAN OTHER TWO DOSHAS.
• • POTENTIAL SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND RESISTANCE AGAINST DISEASES (BALA)

NORMAL FUNCTIONS OF KAPHA

• • BINDER OF VARIOUS BODY STRUCTURES ESPECIALLY JOINTS.
• • RESPONSIBLE FOR STABILITY & STURDINESS OF THE BODY.
• • BODY RESISTENCE AGAINST DISEASE & DECAY.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERS OF KAPHA

• • VISCOUS
• • SMOOTH
• • SOFT
• • FIRM
• • DENSE
• • MOIST
• • HEAVY
• • COOL
• • SLIMY
• • CLEAR
• • THE BODY BULK, COMPACTNESS & THE PHYSICAL STRENGTH.
• • HEALING PROCESS.
• • LUBRICATION OF JOINTS & OTHER BODY PARTS.
• • MENTAL QUALITIES: Forbearance, fortitude, greedless ness,intelligence.

PHYSICAL CONSTITUTION (SHARIRIKA PRAKRITI)

• PHYSICAL CONSTITUTION IS OF SEVEN TYPES
• 1. VATIKA
• 2. PAITTIKA
• 3. KAPHAJA
• 4. VATA-PITTAJA
• 5. VATA-KAPHAJA
• 6. PITTA-KAPHAJA
• 7. SAMADOSHAJA

This is an Overview about the Basics of Ayurveda…….