Ayurveda is
a holistic Indian system of medicine that uses a constitutional model. It works
to provide a flexible guidance to attain a state of positive health. Its
treatment and techniques is also flexible for people with health challenges.
Ayurveda is derived from two Sanskrit root words: Ayu, which means Life, and Veda, which means the Knowledge. Thus
Ayurveda refers to the Science of life.
The ancient rishis or seers of truth, discovered truth by means of religious
practices & disciplines. Through intensive meditation, they manifested
truth in their daily lives. Ayurvedic system of health is conversance of
practical, philosophical & religious experiences of great sages.
Ayurveda is a fine blend of Science, Religion & Philosophy as well. We use
the word religion to denote philosophical perceptions and discipline in conduct
through which, the doors of perception open to all aspects of life. Through its
scientific approach to human life, Ayurveda works to harness the intricate
abilities of human body and mind. With its philosophical approach to human
life, Ayurveda preaches us to recognize ourselves as miniscule component of
this magnificent universe.
The physiological and pharmacological concepts of Ayurveda are structured in
“whole- someness”. Therefore, the Ayurvedic description of
“human body” and the “drugs” are dealt from a holistic
plane. Even their “interface” is identified from a holistic
perspective.
Principles Related to Human Body
our times to human body, Ayurveda studies the human body more from a functional
point of view. In Ayurveda, 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 are evaluated and
described.
In order to explain the functional complexity of human body, Ayurveda
propounded few basic doctrines. These doctrines visualize the functional units
of the body to be formed by three Dosha (humours),
sevenDhatu (tissues)
and Mala (metabolic
end products) which are in equilibrium during health.
The human body is more complex than any other form of life as on date. Purusha ?the Human body is
the aggregate of 25 elements, together with Atma ?the spirit or soul-
is governed by a balance of three specific humors, termed as Doshas.
Practically speaking, their equilibrium is not a static one but dynamic in
nature.
The word Dosha is derived from the root dus,
which sounds similar to the English prefix ?dys?. If translated, the word dosha would mean a
“fault”, “stain”, and “transgression” against the
cosmic rhythm or an inaccuracy that leads to chaos. However, in the context of
Ayurveda philosophy, doshas are not per se harmful. Rather, they seem to be
called doshas for they are prone to undergo chaos or aberrations under
disturbed circumstances.
considered to be manifestations of energy, Vata dosha can rightly be equated to
a Kinetic Energy. The origin of the word Vata can be traced to “that which
moves” and it fits the dosha to the letter.
Vata is the initiator of all life processes that are dynamic in nature. It
represents the impulse in the communication
brain to periphery, from tissue to tissue and cell to cell. Vata is responsible
for perception (pain), transmission and reaction. It brings a thought from the
memory to consciousness, and transfers current experiences into memories. It
inspires speech and is the base for laughter and exaltation.
In human physiology Vata governs all such functions that involve somatic
initiation and dynamism:-
* Vata initiates and transmits all stimuli.
* Vata governs the intestinal motility facilitating the downward movement of
food we consume.
* Vata governs whole process of respiration.
* Vata governs the movement of heart. Thus, it takes off delivering the
nutrients to all cells in our body. It governs the collection and transport of
carbon dioxide and other wastes from body.
* Vata governs our intellectual perception, imagination and motivation.
In order to explain more intricate details of these doshas, Ayurvedic doctrines
classified each of them in five sub-doshas; like vata dosha in “Prana, Udana, Vyana, Samana, Apana”
living cell, it converts the ingested food into energy. Pitta maintains the
natural pigmentation/colour of cells. Pitta is primarily distributed in the
regions of umbilicus, the stomach and small intestines, sweat, lymph, blood,
plasma, eyes and skin.
Pitta dosha, as the name suggests, is responsible for all types of
transformation in the body. Pitta controls digestion of food in the gut as well
as the conversion of light rays which fall on the retina to electrical impulses
which in turn are carried by the optic nerve for processing in the brain. A
strong Pitta in the brain allows good processing of the information, thereby leading
to a certain maturity in comprehension.
If vata dosha controls exultation and laughter, Pitta dosha controls emotions
like anger, fear and bravado. In keeping with its effect on the brain, Pitta is
responsible for positive and action-oriented emotions. Because it hones the
intelligence, Pitta gives rise to greed and may be said to be responsible for
Machiavellian tendencies in humans.
In human body, it governs an array of complex activities concerning digestion
and metabolism; –
* Pitta generates and maintains some natural urges, like hunger, thirst.
* Pitta represents various secretions, responsible for digestion.
* Pitta regulates the complexion and suppleness of skin
* Pitta is instrumental in the maintenance of vision.
* Pitta supports certain mental phenomena like intellectual comprehension,
Conviction, courage and valour.
* Human body is maintained at a constant temperature of 37o C
irrespective of temperature in outer environment. This phenomena is called as
“Thermo-regulation” and constitutes an important function of
Pitta.
In order to explain more intricate details of these doshas, Ayurvedic doctrines
classified each of them in five sub-doshas like pitta dosha in “Pachaka, Ranjaka, Sadhaka, Alochaka,
Bhrajaka”
distributed in chest, throat, head, plasma, fatty deposition and tongue. If
Vata is kinetic energy then Kapha is potential energy.
It gives mental strength, as well as resistance to disease. It gives firmness
to joints while keeping them lubricated. It also imparts sexual potency.
* Like in living cell, Kapha maintains the structural integrity and confines
Individual organs to their specific location.
* It protects the bodily organs against physiological injury.
* Kapha imparts immunity against diseases.
* It maintains the fluid balance.
* Mental phenomenon like, intellectual stability, determinations are governed
by Kapha.
In order to explain more intricate details of these doshas, Ayurvedic doctrines
classified each of them in five sub-doshas like kapha dosha in “Avlambaka, Kedaka, Bodhaka, Tarpaka,
Sleshaka”.
body. They constitute the body -termed as S?areera. The most important difference between
the Doshas and
the Dhatus is
that the latter perform functions under the influence of the Doshas.
The word Dhatu means ?support?, in Sanskrit. Tissues therefore form the
infrastructure of the body. There are Seven types of such structural elements
that, constitute human body.
Rasa :-
It represents the primary constitution of human body. Water is a major
constituent of human body. Such water is present in human body, both as extra
cellular and intracellular fluid content. Rasa dhatu-the first of seven structural elements
refers to both extra cellular and intracellular portions of fluid in the body.
Rakta :-
The word Rakta refers
to Blood. Thus, Rakta dhatu represents
the blood, which includes its cellular components. Blood is perceived as a
special type of tissue, in modern concepts of physiology also.
Mamsa :-
The muscular tissue, which constitutes many internal organs as well as the
muscles, is referred to as Mamsa.
Medas :- Medo-dhatu is referred to
as adipose tissue. Commonly, adipose tissue comprises of all deposits of
fat-distributed in the body.
Asthi :-
All the bones in human body are composed of a tissue termed as osseous tissue.
All such tissue is termed as Asthi
dhatu in Ayurveda. Asthi
dhatu also include all cartilaginous structure in the
body.
Majja :- Majja is bone marrow. A
special type tissue called myeloid tissue forms bone marrow.
Sukra :- Sukra represents the
reproductive elements. This includes the sperm in males and ovum in females.
Apart from these elements, Sukra also
refers to cellular reproductive elements.
TISSUE NUTRITION IN AYURVEDA
The mechanism involved in the maintenance of nutrition to these 7 structural
elements is explained in a concept; known as ” Dhatuparinama Vada”.
As per this concept, the ingested food is digested in digestive tract and nutrient
and waste parts are segregated. This kind of digestion is carried out
primarily, by Pachaka Pitta-which is the digestive
moiety of Pitta.
Samana Vata and Kledaka Kapha, which are the
functional moieties of Vata and Kapha respectively, located in digestive
system, support Pachaka
Pitta in this process. In view of its fire like role, Pachaka Pittais referred to
as “Pachakagni”.
This process can be explained very simply, with an analogy of
“Cooking”. We need the help of air, fire and water to cook food
properly, in our day today practice. In our body, functions of air, fire and
water are played by Samana
Vata, Pachaka
Pitta and Kledaka
Kapha respectively. A right degree of cooking is possible when
the air, fire and water are just, at optimal level.
After digestion, the nutrients and wastes from ingested food are segregated.
The digested food, termed as ” Ahar
Ras” is a blend nutrients needed for all 7 dhatus.
Nutritional demands of different dhatus are
variable and each dhatu derives
its selective nutrients, as this “Ahar
Ras” is circulated through out the body through circulatng
channels. The selective nutrient, picked-up by each Dhatu, undergoes further
metabolism in respective tissues.
Such metabolism, within a Dhatu is
carried out with the help of specific moieties of Pitta located in
respective dhatus.
The Pitta element, working within a particular dhatu, is called as Dhatwagni.
During this process, each Dhatu produces some kind of metabolic waste again,
from its selective nutrients. Such wastes produced by a Dhatu are called Dhatumala. If not eliminated
from time to time these wastes from tissues become toxic. Therefore, Ayurveda
recommends periodical “cleansing” of body
are three and termed as Thrimalas–
(1) Pureesha (The
Faeces)
(2) Mutra (The
Urine)
(3) Sweda (The
Sweat)
The word Thrimala is
used, to refer 3 types of excretory systems present in the body and not just
the excreta. Mala can be translated as metabolic end products. This means that
each cell which is a living factory will produce, under the influence of the
Doshas , wastes (mala) which in turn influence adversely the functions of the
Dhatus that produce them.
Thus Dosha, Dhatu and Mala form a tripod of
health. Followings are the some ayurveda books, you can buy online from given link-
