AYURVEDA

SAIVENKATESH KORLAM Lecturer in Botany Government Degree College Puttur – Chittoor Dist., A.P. History :

• It is believed that the ancient rishis or seers of India received

the gift of from their Hindu gods about 5,000 years

ago. Essential information for how to achieve a balanced and

healthy life was recorded in their sacred texts, the ,

specifically the Atharva Veda.

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR • It is said that the Hindu god , one of the chief triumvirate gods of , created Ayurveda. He then transmitted this knowledge to his son, Daksha . Daksha passed it down to the twin Vedic gods Ashwini Kumaras. The twin gods became the physicians of the gods, and the Devas of Ayurveda. The twin gods presented Ayurveda to , the king of gods. Indra had three physicians as his disciples, namely Acharya Bharadwaj, Acharya and Aacharya Divodas Dhanvantari. From Bharadwaj’s teaching, his student Agnivesha developed the fundamental Ayurvedic text of internal medicine. Agnivesha’s disciple, Acharya Charak then revised this body of work. This started the tradition of passing down the knowledge of Ayurveda from gods to sages.

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR • The , India’s epic narrative, also tells of the incarnation of in the being of Dhanvantari. During the great cosmic churning of the ocean for the celestial nectar of immortality, Dhanvantari emerged, and Vishnu commissioned him to help humanity cure diseases.

• Atharva Veda, the latest book to be added to the four Vedas, was compiled in approximately 900 BCE. It is in this body of knowledge that India’s ancient medical practice is comprehensively and systematically outlined.

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR Ayurvedic Texts • Ayurveda established its own identity as a distinct science after the Vedic period. The Ayurvedic texts are composed of two halves, the Great Three Classics Of Ayurveda and the Lesser Three Classics Of Ayurveda.

• The Great Three Classics of Ayurveda consist of Charaka , , and Ashtanga Hridayam Sangraha. The is believed to have thrived between the second century BCE and the second century CE. The original texts of this book were thought to be written by Agnivesha. He was one of the disciples of Punarvasu Atreya, an Ayurvedic scholar. Agnivesha and his co- disciples created the , drawing from the knowledge they received from Atreya and adding their comprehension on the subject. Agnivesha’s Samhita was of particular interest because of its unique and detailed content. Charaka later annotated Agnivesha's work, and focused more on the diagnosis of a disease and channeled Ayurveda as a means of preventing and curing illnesses. Charaka also K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR detailed the medicinal value and qualities of over 10,000 herbal plants. SUSRUTHA

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR • Sushruta Samhita explains the concept and practice of surgery in Ayurveda. Modern scholars and researchers suggest that the Sushruta Samhita was created approximately in the middle of the first millennium BCE. It is believed to be authored by Sushruta, one of the students of . Sushruta Samhita is composed of 184 chapters and presents 1,120 health conditions, 300 types of operations that require 42 different surgical procedures, 121 various kinds of instruments, and 650 kinds of medicine derived from animals, plants, and minerals.

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR The Concept of Ayurveda • The word Ayurveda is comprised of two terms. Ayur means life, while Veda translates into science or knowledge. Ayurveda has extensively explored natural methods for improving the wellness of the body and mind for millennia. Ayurveda continues to evolve as it responds to the discovery of new diseases. • The main principle of Ayurveda states that the mind and body are connected and the mind has the power to heal and transform a person’s whole being. • In Ayurvedic practices, treatment is specifically created for each person and will largely depend on the state of his or her . In particular, an Ayurvedic practitioner will assess the composition of a person’s dosha and the illnesses he or she is experiencing. It is only then that the Ayurvedic practitioner will recommend a specific treatment for the illness or imbalance. Practitioners of Ayurveda believe that the manifestation of illness is not the same for all people, and that sickness will vary based on how their bodies manifest the symptoms.

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR Dosha • Three forces are fundamental to the concept of Ayurveda. These are the vata, pitta, and the kapha. They are also known as dosha. They are thought to circulate through the body and control a person’s physiological operations. • Vata is said to be connected to the wind, always mobile and dynamic, and regulates the central nervous system. Pitta is viewed similarly to the sun, which is the source of energy, and governs the digestive system and other biochemical processes. Lastly, kapha controls the balance of the body’s tissue fluids, the growth of cells, and the body’s muscular tone. • These dosha can also affect an individual’s temperament and personality. The concept of prakruti explains an individual’s dosha composition and suggests each person has a combination of the three dosha. These energies actively change in response to a person’s thoughts, actions, food, and environmental factors such as the seasons. Identifying a person’s dosha composition will enable him or her to take measures

that will bring their state to balanceK.SAIVENKATESH, GDC,. PTR • There are three states in which the dosha can manifest. The ideal state is balanced or having achieved equilibrium. This happens when all three dosha are in natural proportion with each other. Another condition is the increased state where one of the dosha are greater or excess in proportion relative to the others. Lastly, the decreased state happens one of the dosha is depleted, reduced, and lesser than the other dosha.

• When the dosha become imbalanced, a person's state becomes what is known as vikruti. It can manifest in physiological and behavioral symptoms. For example, a person who has a dominant vata dosha may exhibit the imbalance through dehydration, low energy, feelings of dizziness, anxiety, confusion, and excessive movement and speech.

• Ayurveda seeks to maintain the balance of the dosha. Optimum health is claimed to be achieved when these dosha are in perfect harmony with each other. In contrast, negative health status is said to be a result of an imbalance among the dosha. An Ayurvedic practitioner can customize remedies and therapies to heal a person according to his or her needs and bring the dosha into balance.

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR Vaidya

• The vaidya is a person who practices Ayurveda. In Sanskrit, the word translates into physician. A senior practitioner of Ayurveda is known as vaidyaraja (physician king). Royal families had their own vaidya and were called raja vaidya. • To be a reputable vaidya, one would have to study the principles of Ayurvedic medicine for 12 years. Schools and universities offer formal education in Ayurvedic medicine. A person who desires to become a vaidya can enroll for short-term approved training programs or a formal bachelor’s degree. One does not need to be a licensed medical professional to become an Ayurvedic practitioner. However, Ayurvedic practitioners who want to pursue formal medical training must finish an undergraduate degree. Part of Ayurvedic education includes the study of the principles of dosha, techniques, herbal treatments, and healthy dietary practices.

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR Branches of Ayurveda

• There are eight different components in Ayurvedic medicine that encompass the body’s holistic health. These branches further explain various bodily functions, and how to prevent and cure diseases in these areas: • Kayachikitsa (internal medicine): this branch is concerned with the overall treatment of the entire body. It also focuses on the body’s digestive system and metabolism. Procedures can be executed internally and externally, and may include orally taking medicine as prescribed by the Ayurvedic practitioner and applying oils, lotions, and creams. • Baala Chikitsa (treatment for children): this branch is also called Kaumara Bhritya. It focuses on diseases and sickness that manifest in children. It is also concerned with pre and postnatal care. Ayurvedic practitioners keep in mind that children cannot fully explain the problems they are feeling, that each treatment will be different for each child, and that the medicine prescribed should be pleasant to the taste.

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR • Graha Chikitsa (psychiatry): also known as Bhoot Vidya, this branch deals with problems and diseases of the mind. Some of the treatments used under Graha Chikitsa include herbs, recommended diet, yoga, deep breathing, and Chikitsa which involves chanting . • Urdhyaanga Chikitsa: also known as Shalakaya Tantra, this branch is primarily concerned with health and issues in the upper part of the body, particularly the eyes, ears, nose, and throat. • Shalyaroga Chikitsa (surgery): this branch is mainly concerned with surgical procedures. It describes the use of surgical devices such as scalpels and scissors.

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR • Damstra Chikitsa (toxicology): this branch deals with the study and remedy of toxins and poisons in the body, food, and environment. • Jara Chikitsa (geriatric): this branch is concerned with the care of the elderly. It focuses on the treatment of sickness and diseases brought about by old age. Therapies focus on rejuvenation, longevity, memory, and strength. • Vajjikaran Chikitsa (reproductive health): this involves sexual health and treatment of reproductive problems such as infertility and the insufficiency of essential fluids.

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR Components of Ayurvedic Treatment

• Treatment in Ayurveda involves four components. These are the Bhishak, (physician/surgeon), Rogi (patient), Upasthata (nurse or caregiver), and Dravyam (food/medicine). These components are linked with one another and must possess certain qualities in order for the overall treatment to be effective.

• The bhishak must possess vast medical knowledge and experience. He or she must be dexterous, disciplined, and clean. The rogi must be able to describe the complaints he or she is feeling, comply and follow the bhishak’s prescription carefully, and must be tolerant of the procedures.

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR • The upasthata must have substantial knowledge and experience in

nursing, must be dexterous and compassionate towards the patient.

Lastly, the dravyam should be abundant and easily accessible and

appropriate to cure the particular disease. In addition, the herbs

must be transformable into different forms and doses, and must be

prepared through a method which ensures that it retains all of its

desired therapeutic characteristics.

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR Treatments and Remedies in Ayurvedic Medicine

• Diagnosis in Ayurveda is conducted in two steps. The first step is to identify the state and type of pathology. This can involve health examinations and other investigations to determine the disease, such as asking questions and assessing the patient. The second step is to determine the form of treatment to be prescribed or conducted. The status of the patient's strength and physical state is also evaluated in formulating the appropriate treatment. • There are five types of treatment in Ayurvedic medicine. They are all based on the five primary senses of sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. All five methods aim to bring balance to the person’s dosha and can be done in any combination as prescribed the practitioner.

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR THANK YOU

K.SAIVENKATESH, GDC, PTR