Ayurveda - the secrets of life and beauty

Ayurveda linguistically means knowledge of life. Ayurveda elaborately describes measures for healthful living during the entire span of life, and its various phases. Agnivesha first described Ayurveda in his book Agnivesh Tantra. It was later revised by Charaka and renamed to Charaka Samhita. Another ancient script that describes Ayurveda is 'Sushruta Samhita'. These texts were documented about 1000 years BC. The Charaka Samhitā begins with a description of a large and well-attended medical conference of veteran Rishis and Munis (sages) that was held under the chairmanship of Bharadwaja in the valley of the Himalayas. The description is atributed to Atreya Punarvasu, one of the devoted students of Bharadwaja. He tells us that the main aim of this conference was to share medical knowledge and to encourage the attending scholars to compile the medical knowledge gained by different peoples of the region, knowledge which had been passed down, mostly orally, from generation to generation. This stream of Ayurvedic medical knowledge was considered eternal, because it was known by them to have been there since the beginning of time. However, the participants also knew that there were no authentic and complete texts of Ayurveda available for study. For this reason the writing of texts became the focus of the conference.

The basics of Healthy Life

Life in Ayurveda is conceived as the union of body, senses, mind and soul. The living man is a conglomeration of three humors (Vata, Pitta & Kapha), seven basic tissues (Rasa, Rakta, Mansa, Meda, Asthi, Majja & Shukra) and the waste products of the body such as faeces, urine and sweat. Thus the total body matrix comprises of the humors, the tissues and the waste products of the body. The growth and decay of this body matrix and its constituents revolve around food that gets processed into humors, tissues and wastes. Ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation and metabolism of food have interplay in health and disease that are significantly affected by psychological mechanisms as well as by bio- fire (Agni). 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(fire) 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.

Ayurveda is formally organized into eight branches called Ashtanga. They are ...

Kayachikitsa Tantra (Internal Medicine)
Shalya Tantra (Surgery)
Shalakya Tantra (Ears, Eyes, Nose and Throat)
Kaumarabhritya Tantra (Pediatrics)
Agada Tantra (Toxicology)
Bajikarana Tantra (Purification of the genetic organs)
Rasayana Tantra ( Health and Longevity)
Bhoota Vidya (Spiritual Healing)

Three traditions of Ayurveda exist today - two of them based on the compilation of Charka and Sushruta Samhitäs, and a third tradition known as Käshyapas

Diagonosis and Treatment

Ayurveda follows a holistic approch in diagonosis. The Vaidyan (physician ) carefully makes an observation of the patient's internal physiological characteristics and mental temperament. Physician also studies such other factors as the affected bodily tissues, humors, the site at which the disease is located, patient's resistance and vitality, his daily routine, dietary habits, the gravity of clinical conditions, condition of digestion and details of personal, social, economic and environmental situation of the patient. It also involves physical, pulse, urine examinations. The physician meticulously examines the eyes, skin and tongue. Ayurvedic Treatment of the disease consists in avoiding causative factors responsible for disequilibria of the body matrix or of any of its constituent parts through the use of Panchkarma procedures, medicines, suitable diet, activity and regimen for restoring the balance and strengthening the body mechanisms to prevent or minimize future occurrence of the disease. It also includes a prescribed activity routine.Ayurveda medicine operates on the precept that various materials of vegetable, animal, and mineral origin have some medicinal value. The medicinal properties of these materials have been documented by the practitioners and have been used for centuries to cure illness and/or help maintain good health. Ayurvedic medicaments are made from herbs or mixtures of herbs, either alone or in combination with minerals, metals and other ingredients of animal origin. The metals, animals and minerals are purified by individual processes before being used for medicinal purposes. 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.Ayurveda has a very well formed and scientifically based Preventive treatment for a healthy life. This consists of Shodhana Therapy (Purification Treatment), Shamana Therapy ( Palliative Treatment), Padhya Vyavstha ( Prescription of diet and routine), Nidan Parivarjan ( Avoiding causes of disease), Satvavajaya (Psychotherapy) and Rasayana therapy (Rejuvenation Treatment).Regulation of diet has a great importance in Ayurvedic Treatment. This is because it considers human body as the product of food. An individual's mental and spiritual development as well as his temperament is influenced by the quality of food consumed by him. Food in human body is transformed first into Rasa and then successive processes involve its conversion into blood, muscle, fat, bone, bone marrow, reproductive elements and ojus. Thus, food is basic to all the metabolic transformations and life activities. Lack of nutrients in diets, improper transformation of food lead to a variety of disease conditions.

Ayurveda and Kerala.

In contemporary world Ayurveda has a wide scope as far as prevention of diseases, promotion of health and Rejuvenation of body and mind. Kerala is well known for Ayurvedic hospitals and Resorts. Kerala's climate, abundance of medicinal plants in tropical rain forests and religious practitioners makes it a popular destination for Ayurvedic treatments.

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