Ayurveda & Traditional Medicine System

About Ayurveda
Ayurveda which is the oldest holistic medicines system has been derived from a Sanskrit world ‘ayus' (life) and ‘ved' (knowledge) which means the "science of life". Ayurveda is the most ancient science of healing which enhances longevity. It has influenced many of the older traditional methods of healing including Tibetan, Chinese and Greek medicine. Hence, Ayurveda is considered by many as the 'mother of healing.'

Ayurveda can be defined as a system, which uses the inherent principles of nature, to help maintain health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature. Ayurveda represents the ancient Indian art of healing in which the human body is not considered just as a mass of organs, systems and tissues; but the complex mechanism of myriad functions taking place, both at physical and mental level.

Brief History
The true history of Ayurveda starts from the time of the Holy books, the Vedas which was written by Shri Vedvyas Jee one of the greatest sages of India, about Five thousand years ago. It is also said that essence of Ayurveda was revealed by the creator of the world himself – Lord Brahma.

Beside Vyasadeva's information about hundreds of herbal drugs in the Vedas, there were few other treatises on Ayurveda that have survived from around the same time, the most famous are Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita which concentrate on internal medicine and surgery respectively. The Astanga Hridayam is a more concise compilation of earlier texts that was created about a thousand years ago and forming a greater part of the knowledge base on Ayurveda as it is practiced today. Classically, Ayurvedic Medicine was conceptualized and practiced as eight major clinical subspecialties of medicine in addition to numerous adjunctive specialties. The eight major subspecialties continue to be taught today and they include:

• Internal Medicine (Kayachikitsa)
• General Surgery (Shalya Tantra)
• Otorhinolaryngology (Shalakya)
• Paediatrics and Obstetrics/Gynaecology (Kaumarabhrtya)
• Psychiatry (Bhutavidya)
• Toxicology (Agada Tantra)
• Nutrition, Detoxification and Rejuvenation (Rasayana Tantra)
• Fertility and Virility (Vajikarana)

For every disease, there is information about: definition, etiology, prodrome, clinical symptoms, pathophysiology, prognosis, principles of treatment, medicines, diet, lifestyle recommendations, and even etymology. This approach is strikingly similar to that of modern medicine and even more comprehensive.

Salient feature of Ayurveda

• Ayurveda is not merely a medical science but is complete philosophy of living.
• It focuses on establishing and maintaining balance of the life energies within us, rather than focusing on individual symptoms.
• It recognizes the unique constitutional differences of all individuals and therefore recommends different regimens for different types of people. Although two people may appear to have the same outward symptoms, their energetic constitutions may be very different and therefore call for very different remedies.
• Ayurveda is a complete medical system which recognizes that ultimately all intelligence and wisdom flows from one Absolute source (Paramatman). Health manifests by the grace of the Absolute acting through the laws of Nature (Prakriti). Ayurveda assists Nature by promoting harmony between the individual and Nature by living a life of balance according to her laws.
• Ayurveda describes three fundamental universal energies which regulate all natural processes on both the macrocosmic and microcosmic levels. That is, the same energies which produce effects in the various galaxies and star systems are operating at the level of the human physiology--in your own physiology. These three universal energies are known as the Tridosha.
• The ancient Ayurvedic physicians realized the need for preserving the alliance of the mind and body and offers mankind tools for remembering and nurturing the subtler aspects of our humanity. Ayurveda seeks to heal the fragmentation and disorder of the mind-body complex and restore wholeness and harmony to all people.
• The primary goal of Ayurveda has been twofold – promotion of health and managing the disease. Ayurveda is that it is not merely a therapy or system of medicine.
• Ayurveda is essentially a holistic approach toward life, health and disease management. Ayurvedic approach includes the judicious use of medicinal herbs, Minerals, diet, lifestyle, spirituality and yoga.
• Ayurveda right from its inception uphold two basic purposes – enhancement of health and prevention of disease. There are guideposts regarding diet, daily regimen, hygiene, immunity boosting and rejuvenation.
• Ayurveda considers the appropriate treatment to that management which relieves the disease and doesn't cause any other disease as a result of treatment. This is brought about through balancing the qualities and synergistic planning and formulation of medicinal herbs.
• Rejuvenative treatment is given so much importance in Ayurveda that out of eight branches in ancient Ayurveda, one was fully devoted to rejuvenation, anti-ageing, Promotion of health and geriatric health.
• Ayurveda considers each individual as a physical, social, mental and spiritual being. For social integrity, Ayurveda supports both moral and spiritual principles and teaches that they are essential for the health of society.
• Ayurvedic herbs are the chief therapeutic agent in Ayurveda. Natural medicinal herbs are great healing agents with very little or no side effects. Most of the uses of Ayurvedic herbs are being validated by modern herbal research. Some of the toxic and poisonous herbs are used after their purification when they are free of their harmful effect.