What is Ayurveda?
AYURVEDA: “AYU” means human life when it consists of the body, sensory organs, mind, and soul. “VEDAS” means texts that contain a description of the preventive aspects of health and the treatment procedure.
Ayurvedic treatment is an ancient Nepalese and Indian health system, practiced for centuries of research, not only for healing but also as a system of knowledge that is the basis for a way of life that leads to physical and mental well-being in a holistic way.
These are the oldest medical records, which reach the age of 6000 years. The four Vedas are:
- Rig-Veda
- Yajur-Veda
- Sama-Veda
- Atharva-Veda
Ayurveda is an innate skill and does not require artificiality.
Ayurveda defines good health as about how to be happy and vice versa, how to avoid illness because an illness is the absence of happiness.
This is very close to today’s definition of health given by the WHO:
“Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and the absence of disease is not necessary. A fourth dimension has recently been added: “spirituality”.
Western medicine known to us does not see a man, it sees only one part of him.
Ayurvedic practitioners believe that the human body is composed of vital elements that are in a certain balance. Every shift in balance leads to disease.
Diagnosis of imbalance, therapy of correction of imbalance, and prevention of disease through lifestyle are the essence of Ayurveda.
When Ayurveda is said to be holistic, it refers to the approach to the human being as a physical, mental, and spiritual whole. When we take into account that Western medicine, as we know it, has a mechanistic approach, the doctor does not know the patient’s medical history or time to deal with it, everyone is treated as an identical individual, the current problem is artificially separated, the disease is temporarily cured but do not cure. Ayurveda approaches man as a unique being with a unique life history as well as family and social relationships.
What all people as well as the whole universe have in common is ‘Pancha Maha Bootha’. It is the eternal five elements: space (ether), air, fire, earth, water. The elements exist in every organism but in a different combination of estimates. These different proportions determine:
- Type of Doshas (which maintain and control metabolic functions in the body)
- Dhatu (different types of tissues)
- Small (metabolic products and wastes)
- Agni- (representative of solar energy in the body of all living beings and an indicator of every metabolic process)
- Triguna (three specific properties of the mind that govern 3 forms of dosha, seven types of dhatus and three forms of malas)
The dynamic balance of all the above leads to an approach to the ideal of health and any form of imbalance to disease.
Pancha Maha Bootha determines three basic forms of doshas:
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
This is the theory of Tridoš (our word soul)… Vata soul is a combination of space and air. Pitta dosha is a combination of fire and air, and Kapha of earth and water. Tridoša manages biological, physiological, and pathological processes in the body, mind, and consciousness. Awareness is a key dimension of human existence. Many techniques of meditation, yoga just practice and strengthen the consciousness, but that requires a special text.
Vata dosha principle: Vata is considered the primary dosha that governs the functions of the other two. It is predominantly located below the navel in the bladder, pelvic region, intestinal tract, legs, thighs, and bones. Cotton imbalance leads to: limb fatigue, thinning skin, tremors, gastric problems, constipation, insomnia, weakness of body organs, dizziness and inconsistency of speech, general weakness of the body, anorexia, anemia, respiratory problems, and lethargy.
Vate balance leads to elasticity, proper breathing, fast intelligence, general alertness, and awareness, which creates good eyesight, insight.
The pitta principle is present mainly between the heart and the navel, in the navel, in the upper parts of the intestinal tract, lymph nodes, sweat, blood, eyes, and skin. Symptoms of Pitta imbalance are inflamed eyes, pale skin, the problem with stool and urine with increased appetite. The body thus has disturbances in the sensations of itching, burning sensations, and lack of sleep.
Proper pitta function leads to a good appetite, proper digestion, sharp memory, wisdom, and glowing skin.
The Kapha principle is a phlegmatic principle and is considered to be predominantly present in the tongue, tissues, nose, joints, head, throat, chest.
The Kapha principle leads to lethargy, lethargy and rigidity. Excessive salivation, cold in the joints, cough, drowsiness, shortness of breath is often present. The balance of cotton wool leads to strong joints and a good supply of nutrients to the body.
Prakriti is our innate constitution that is individual and determined by the time of conception, based on an individual combination of five elements and certain parental genes as well as life habits, but they are also able to change and adapt to environmental changes, eating habits and daily routine. That is why we are talking about dynamic equilibrium, ie. the ever-changing balance between social and individual life in its various aspects.
According to Ayurveda, there are seven constitutions or Prakriti:
Vata – a person like the wind
Pitta – a person like fire
Kapha is a predominantly phlegmatic person
Vata- pitta tip
Vata- kapha type
Pitta- kapha type
Vata-pitta-kapha type
The rarest types have all three doshas elevated or lowered as well as those types that have a predominant only one dosha. People are mostly a combination of two doshas.
There are three basic diagnostic methods:
- Visual observation of the patient (darsana pareeksha)
- Verbal examination of the patient (prasna pareeksha)
- Physical examination with pulse diagnosis (sparsana pareeksha and nadi pareeksha)
Ayurveda pays special attention to the prevention of disease through harmony with nature.
Types of Ayurvedic Treatment
- SODHANA CHIKITSA – purification, cleansing therapy and is applied due to metabolic side effects or toxins. Panchakarma therapy
- SHAMANA CHIKITSA – therapy to calm the body. Unlike previous therapy, this therapy is not based on the elimination of substances from the body. It is a therapy that is applied after sodhana chikitsa and is based on taking oral supplements.
Types of Ayurvedic Massage
- Shirodhara – lukewarm healing oil or milk, poured on the forehead in rhythmic oscillating movements. It is an extremely good massage for vata type nervous diseases. It is good for sinuses, acne, to improve memory and concentration
- Njavarakizhi massage means njavara Indian rice cooked in milk with medicinal herbs and packed in special bags. It is extremely good for body strength, rheumatism, muscle hardness, cramps, good tissue complexity
- Abjangam massage is a massage of deep relaxation of the body. Special Indian tropical oils are used, which calm the body and mind
- Ekanga abjangam is a muscular relaxation of certain parts of the body
- Pizhichil massage – large amounts of healing warm oil are used, which is used for various degenerative diseases
- Lekhaneeyam is a special herbal powder that very successfully removes cellulite. Before that, lymphatic drainage massage is applied.
- Marma massage – I have specially dedicated myself to this massage because it refers to certain energy flows (similar to shiazu). Marma point stimulation is used. It is 6000 years old and was used by kalaripayattu warriors to heal their injured members. I have personally tried it and it gives amazing effects. It is a massage that also heals, rejuvenates, and relaxes.
- Kativasti massage is intended for all those who have a problem with rheumatism, sciatica, lumbar pain. Pools are made on the painful parts where warm oil is poured which penetrate deep to the tissues and nerves.
- Foot and palm reflexology.
- Marma head massage – for all people who suffer from back, neck, and head pain.
History of Ayurvedic Treatment
Vāgbhaṭa (वाग्भट is one of the most influential classical writers of Ayurveda. Several works are associated with his name as the author, mainly Aṣṭāṅgasaṅgraha (अष्टाङ्गसंग्रह) and the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā.
Vāgbhaṭa lived in Sindh, present-day Pakistan, and was the son of Siṃhagupt and a disciple of Avalokites. He was a Buddhist.
He was a Kasmirac by ethnicity. Vagbhata originates from Charaka. Both works were originally written in Sanskrit and have 3000 sutras.
According to Vagbhati, 85% of diseases can be cured without a doctor and 15% require his presence.
The holy trinity of Ayurvedic knowledge are three names: Sushruta – one of the first surgeons, 2. Charaka – a genius in the field of medicine and 3. Vagbhata who lived in Sindh in the 6th century AD.
Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Ah, “Heart of Medicine”) is written in poetic language (tomorrow means in the form of aphorisms). The Aṣṭāṅgasaṅgraha is a compendium of medicine. Everything is written in prose. Ah – is written in 7120 easy-to-understand Sanskrit versions representing coherent Ayurvedic knowledge. Ashtanga in Sanskrit means eight components and refers to the eight sections of Ayurveda: internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics and gynecology, rejuvenation therapy, aphrodisiac therapy, toxicology, psychiatry or spiritual treatment and ENT.
There are sections on how to live a long life, personal hygiene, causes of illness, the effects of season and time on the human body, types and classification of drugs, relevance of taste buds, pregnancy and possible complications during pregnancy, Prakriti or types of individual constitution, and different types of prognosis based on Prakriti.
Information on the petition plan of therapy or so-called panchakarma is provided in detail, including therapeutically induced vomiting, use of laxatives, enema, ie enemas – complications that may occur during these therapies and necessary medications. Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā is the most extensive and consistent Ayurvedic classical literature. We can call it the Ayurvedic Bible. Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā – is ^ ah ^ i.e. the heart, the imperative of all Ayurvedic practitioners
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What does Ayurveda treat?
The concept of Ayurveda
According to Ayurvedic theory, everything in the universe is connected whether it is living or non-living matter. Good health is achieved when the mind, body, and spirit are in balance and in harmony with the universe. The disorder of harmony leads to physical and mental illness. Factors that affect balance disorder are emotions, aging, climate change, injuries, genetic defects, etc.
Your body works to create a healthy and unique blend of physical and psychological characteristics by combining into a specific structure of your body, or Prakriti. Your Prakriti remains the same for life. Everything in the universe is composed of five basic elements: air, space, fire, earth, water. All these elements combine in the human body to form specific life forces or energies of vata, pitta and kapha.
Vata Dosha
The Vata dosha is the most powerful of all three doshas. It is a combination of air and space. It controls basic bodily functions such as cell division. It controls the mind, breathing, blood flow, heart function, bowel emptying. This dosha can be disturbed by emotions of sadness, fear, free-floating fear, staying up late at night, exhaustion which gives dryness to the body, eating dried fruit, for example, and all dry food.
If the vata dosha is overemphasized you are likely to develop: anxiety, asthma, heart disease, nervous system disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and skin problems.
Pitta Dosha
Pitta dosha is a combination of fire and water and controls: digestion, metabolic functions and hormones related to appetite. A disorder of the pitta dosha can be caused by fatigue, overly spicy foods, acidic foods or a lot of time in the sun.
If the pitta dosha is disturbed too much you will most likely develop anger and negative emotions, Crohn’s disease, heart disease, heartburn, high blood pressure
Kapha Dosha
Kapha dosha is a combination of earth and water. It affects the flow of water, lymph in the body as well as the body’s nutrition. It gives mental and physical stability to the body. The disorder of kapha dosha can lead to depression, lack of interest, immobility.
What happens when you visit an Ayurvedic practitioner?
First check where you are coming from and whether that person is licensed by the Indian government or some official institution to do business. Otherwise, you can fall victim to the placebo effect and many scams. Health is the basis of our happiness and that is why we should pay attention to it with full attention. The magic wand does not exist but there are systems tested for thousands of years that can help and heal rather than heal.
When you come to an Ayurvedic practitioner be prepared to talk about yourself because Ayurveda is a holistic comprehensive approach to life. She is interested in balance in all domains of life. A trained practitioner will not only examine your body, but it will also be interested in an extensive personal and medical history, including questions about daily diet, occupation, working conditions, living routine, relationships, and mental health.
This input of information is essential to identify key symptoms and potential imbalance factors and to determine treatment options.
What is an initial examination?
Ayurvedic examinations consist of three parts:
Observation (Darshan) The practitioner first evaluates the general physical health by looking at the patient, observing his / her movements, body contour, skin and eye color, facial lines, ridges, nose shape, quality of lips, hair, nails.
Sparsha or touching – is a tactile diagnosis: palpation is performed, ie pressing certain parts of the body, the so-called sparshanam. The patient’s speech and sounds are heard.
Prashna – means examining the patient about the symptoms, what he is complaining about, discomfort about the course of the disease, discomfort and progression of the disease. The doctor also examines the mental and psychological conditions.
When we feel bad, we usually go to a Western doctor. Disease caused by different pathogenic factors such as viruses and bacteria is treated with the same drugs for different people and always gives different effects because humans are not identical to replicated individuals but separate specific universes. Ayurvedic therapy is based on individualized treatment.
An Ayurvedic doctor (unlike an Ayurvedic practitioner) uses an approach called Pareeksha horn that combines disease analysis with an in-depth examination of each individual. That is why we say that learning the Ayurvedic technique is learning the SKILL of applying an Ayurvedic medical system adapted to each individual. Ayurveda believes that each individual carries within them a potential energy that can regenerate and return the body from a state of imbalance or disease to balance or health.
An Ayurvedic practitioner only supports this process of self-healing. Healthy elements are strengthened. This process is called svabhavaporamavada giving the body a challenge, an incentive to heal with its own energy. Treatments (massages, dietary changes, yoga, etc.), as well as herbotherapy, are an integral part of this process, causing self-repair of the body and mind.
According to Ayurveda, diseases are caused by an imbalance of the dosha or a specific set of vital energy and an Ayurvedic practitioner has undergone precise training to recognize the imbalance as well as the prakruti or individual constellation of elements.
What are these Ayurvedic treatments?
An Ayurvedic practitioner has a wide range of treatments. Treatments can be routine or seasonal.
Shirodhara is a technique of healing continuous leakage of jet across the forehead. The type of healing oil and the number and length of treatments is determined according to the type of disorder. On the site, you can see various types of Indian massages and each of them has an effect on health.
Diet and nutrition: The practice of Ayurvedic nutrition is vital to a healthy life and these are important components of healing, recovery and disease management. The diet is adapted to each individual and is based on six basic tastes: sweet – promotes strength and nourishes the whole body and soul, acid – stimulates the digestive tract, salty – maintains water balance, electrolytes in the body, sharp, hot-improves digestion, and absorption, bitter – stimulates all other tastes, astringent – helps absorption.
Ayurvedic Massage: These treatments are performed by trained therapists who work under the supervision of trained Ayurvedic practitioners. Oils are selected and prepared in accordance with the specifics of the practitioner’s diagnosis.
Panchakarma: It is multi-step detoxification and removal of “amu” or toxins, waste materials that have not been absorbed and accumulate in the body. The regimen includes massage, steam, and herbal treatment, vamanu – induced vomiting, virechanu – use of plant-based laxatives, basti – enemas, microbleeds and nasal (nasal treatments).
This is a traditional procedure and in modern times it has been significantly modified and modernized. These treatments are accompanied by a strict diet and herbotherapy regimen and lead to complete rejuvenation of the body, which I personally blamed. I returned to Serbia with a perfect line and completely fresh, energized.
Medicinal herbs and herbal formulas Ayurveda teaches us that the effectiveness of a plant is determined by its “ras” (taste), “virio” active potency of “vipaka” or post-digestive effect. Ayurveda requires practitioners to have a deep knowledge of plants and their influence on physiology, biochemistry, psychology.
Ayurveda does not support the theory that plants are benign and have no side effects. By the time I was in India I learned that there are such dangerous plants in Europe unknown which are some kind of drug that can kill. It kills in three days: the first day a man goes mad, the second day he falls into a deep sleep, and on the third day he usually dies. Some tourists were killed in this way.
There is also an example of a plant with the Latin name Atropa Belladonna or deadly nightshade, which has psychotropic effects and is extremely poisonous. It contains scopolamine (otherwise known as truth serum) and hyoscyamine. They cause hallucinations and delirium. Otherwise, atropine is a derivative of this plant. It comes from the Italian word belladonna because women in the Middle Ages put atropine in their eyes to dilate their pupils and thus be more attractive to men.
This mechanism is very logical because in psychology it is known that pupil dilation occurs due to a state of arousal and the male eye can not miss it. Anticholinergic properties lead to changes in learning and memory in a mild form and as we have already said to delirium in severe and eventually to death. In animals that ate it, it led to anesthesia and paralysis.
The conclusion is that plants are not harmless and should be used with knowledge because they can be stronger than any synthetic drug. Knowledge of their effects is not only based on the observation of “trial and error” throughout human history but requires knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the brain and the whole body by an Ayurvedic practitioner.
