An introduction to Ayurveda

• Ayurveda is one of the traditional ways of healing various ailments, being practiced in India since time immemorial.

• It has come to us as a gift for the well being of the humanity, through our great sages.

Ayurveda – It’s meaning Ayurveda is the combination of 2 words

Ayur - Veda• Ayur meaning The Whole Lifespan

• Veda meaning Total Knowledge

The science of Ayurveda, therefore, encompasses

treatment of the total knowledge of the whole Lifespan.

Ayurveda – It’s Purpose

Preserving the health of healthy and eliminating suffering of the sick

Balance in Doshas, Balance in Agnis, Balance in Dhatus, Proper elimination, Blissful Senses, Mind and Bliss at the

deepest level of Soul is

Health.

Aim of Ayurveda

The aim of Ayurveda is proper maintenance of metabolic equilibrium of the human psychosomatic material and the restoration of the same to the normal when disturbed

Health According to Ayurveda

Health according to Ayurveda is perfect balance between body, mind, spirit (soul) and the environment. Ayurvedic techniques focus on achieving that balance

Basic Principles of Ayurveda

• Ayurveda is based on 3 energies. Their balanced stated is health and imbalance is disease

VATA – the kinetic energy

PITTA – the thermal energy

KAPHA - the potential energy

• These are the basic functional units of the cell i.e. they work on cellular level

Concept of 5 Basic Elements All matter in this universe is composed of 5 basic

elements. The sense of which is perceived by 5 sense organs

Element Sense Sense organ

Earth (Prithvi) Smell Nose

Water (Jal) Taste Tongue

Fire (Agni) Sight Eyes

Air (Vayu) Touch Skin

Ether (Aakash) Sound Ear

Six Taste (Rasa) Concept All food, herbs and medicines have 6 Tastes and

are composed of 5 basic elements.

Taste Composition Example

Sweet Earth + Water Clarified Butter, Mango, Banana, Milk

Sour Earth + Fire Yogurt, Lemon, Orange, Cheese, Vinegar

Salty Earth + Water Sea Salt

Pungent Air + Fire Spicy food, Black pepper, Ginger, Cumin

Bitter Air + Ether Bitter gourd, Neem,

Astringent Earth + Water Spinach, Lentils, Guava,

Elementary Composition of three basic energies

Energy Composition

Potential Energy(Kapha)

Earth + Water

Thermal Energy (Pitta )

Fire

Kinetic Energy(Vata)

Air + Ether

Relationship between Six Tastes (Rasa), Five Elements and Three Energies

Six tastes directly effect the 3 energies, according to

their elementary composition Taste Composition Effect on Three Energies

K.E = Kinetic Energy (Vata) T.E = Thermal Energy (Pitta)

P.E = Potential Energy (Kapha)

Sweet Earth + Water K.E. = T.E = P. E =

Sour Earth + Fire K.E. = T.E = P. E =

Salty Fire + Water K.E. = T.E = P. E =

Pungent Air + Fire K.E. = T.E = P. E =

Bitter Air + Ether K.E. = T.E = P. E =

Astringent Air + Earth K.E. = T.E = P. E =

What is Disease

According to Ayurveda

disease is imbalance of three

energies i.e.

VATA ( Kinetic energy),

PITTA (Thermal energy )

KAPHA (Potential energy)

Diagnosis according to Ayurveda

Diagnosis according to Ayurveda is not naming the disease, but identification of

the imbalance of these three energies by examination of the following

Pulse Eyes

Urine Tongue

Faecal matter Voice or Speech

Skin ‘Aakriti’(Body build)

What is Cure

According to Ayurveda

any method used to

restore the balance of

these 3 basic energies is

cure

Concept of Endotoxins i.e. Aama

• Ayurveda is the only system which offers true answer to all auto-immune disorders like Ulcerative colitis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Scleroderma, Sarcoidosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Nephrotic syndrome, Psoriasis etc.

• Endotoxins formed within the body are the root cause of all auto-immune diseases

• Complete removal of Endotoxins from the system offers complete cure of auto-immune disease

Methods of healing in Ayurveda

Healing by use of herbs, minerals and products from natural resources Healing by five purification methods known as “Panchkarma”

Healing through divine blessings, prayers meditation and enchanting of mantras etc.

Healing through counseling and psychological consultations

Healing by use of Herbs and

Products from Natural Resources

• Ayurveda utilizes herbs and products from natural resources for healing

• Herbs like Neem , Aloe vera, Arjuna, Turmeric, Tulsi ( Holy basil) fight many illnesses including cancer

• Corals, Pearls and Conch etc. are also utilized for healing

Healing by Five Purificationmethods known as “Panchkarma”

The diseases not cured by

herbs or minerals are

uprooted forever by five

purification methods

known as “ Panchkarma”

Preparatory procedures for Panchkarma

• Snehan (Oleation- Massage with Oils)

The first preparatory step is to saturate

the body with herbal and medicated oils

• Swedan (Hot fomentation)

The second preparatory step is therapeutic

application of the heat to the body

Five main procedures of Panchkarma

Vamna (Therapeutic Emesis) Procedure to cure the diseases

related to Potential energy i.e. Kapha by inducing therapeutic emesis

Virechana (Therapeutic Purging) Procedure to cure the

diseases related to Thermal energy i.e. Pitta

Vasti (Therapeutic purification and rejuvenation of the colon)

Procedure to cure the diseases related to Kinetic energy i.e. Vata

Nasya ( Therapeutic cleansing of the head region)

Procedure to cure the diseases related to head, neck

(ear, nose, throat and eyes etc.)

Rakt-Mokshan (Therapeutic blood letting)

Procedure to cure the chronic diseases related to

skin, blood and thermal energy by using suction pumps or leeches

Post Panchkarma Procedures

Samsarajan Karma – These are the set of procedures adopted to restore the digestive fire, healthy metabolic functions, immunity etc. by graduated diet and lifestyle.

• Ayurveda heals by activating the natural inherent curative force of the body

• It believes in complete cure and not only control of signs and symptoms

• It gives more stress on why is the problem rather than what is the problem

• Being natural, it is free from side effects, rather side benefits are there

• It believes not only in restoration of the static balance but also the Dynamic balance

• It is a holistic system of medicine and does not have segregated approach, as it cures the patient as a whole and not the disease only