Ayurveda and Traditional Medicine of India

Traditional Medicine of India

  • Historical Context

    • Early references to medicinal plants are found in the Rig-Veda.

Key Texts in Ayurveda

  • Charaka Samhita

    • A Hindu medical text written around 1000 B.C.

    • Quote on ideal medical student:

    • "He should be of a mild disposition, noble by nature, never mean in his acts, free from pride, strong memory, liberal mind, devoted to truth, likes solitude, of thoughtful disposition, free from anger, of excellent character, compassionate, one fond of study, devoted to both theory and practice, who seeks the good of all creatures."—Charaka Samhita 3.VIII.6 (Abridged)

  • Sushruta Samhita

    • Another ancient Hindu medical text written around 600 B.C.

    • Quote on anatomy:

    • "The different parts or members of the body… cannot be correctly described by one who is not well versed in anatomy. Hence, any one desirous of acquiring a thorough knowledge of anatomy should prepare a dead body and carefully, observe, by dissecting it, and examine its different parts."—Sushruta Samhita, Book 3, Chapter V. Translators: Loukas et al.

Historical Development

  • The ancient medical wisdom of India was compiled into a book called Ayurveda, written around 2000 years ago.

  • The Buddhist King Ashoka united India under his rule in 260 B.C., leading to the establishment of hospitals throughout India around 250 B.C.

Defining Ayurveda

  • Holistic System

    • Ayurveda is a holistic system of health and wellness.

Panchamahabhutas: The Five Basic Elements

  • Elements

    • Akash (ether)

    • Vayu (air)

    • Agni (fire)

    • Prithvi (earth)

    • Jala (water)

    • Three Doshas

  • Vata: Composed of Air and Ether

  • Pitta: Composed of Water and Fire

  • Kapha: Composed of Water and Earth

    • Proportions of Doshas

  • Everyone contains all three doshas in different proportions based on the balance of the five elements in their make-up.

Body Associations of Panchamahabhutas

  • Ayurveda 5 Finger/Element/Organ

    • Ether: Brain

    • Air: Lungs

    • Fire: Intestine

    • Water: Kidneys

    • Earth: Sinuses, Nostrils, Throat, Bronchi

Attributes of Each Element

  • Ether or Space Element

    • Spaces in the body: Mouth, nostrils, thorax, abdomen, respiratory tract, and cells.

    • Produces speech and bodily sounds; smooth, soft, subtle, porous—produces softness and lightness.

    • Associated with hearing, having no distinct taste.

  • Air Element

    • Element of movement: Muscle movement, pulsation of blood, intestinal movement, etc.

    • Produces lightness and dryness; rough, dry, cold, and soluble.

    • Associated with the sense of touch, has an astringent and slightly bitter taste.

  • Fire Element

    • Enzyme functioning, intelligence, and metabolism; involved with temperature and body color luster.

    • Produces heat, is pungent, bright, and helps digestion.

    • Associated with vision, with a pungent taste.

  • Water Element

    • Represents body liquids: plasma, blood, saliva, etc. Also involved in moisture and digestive processes.

    • Cold, fluid, heavy, and moist; associated with the sense of taste, tastes sweet, astringent, sour, and saline.

  • Earth Element

    • Represents solid structures of the body: bones, muscles, nails, etc.

    • Heavy, firm, and strong—nutrition and purgation. Associated with the sense of smell and has a sweet taste.

Ayurvedic Body Types

  • Three Basic Body Types

    • Vata: Composed of air and space. Characteristics include:

    • Thin, dry, rough skin, large teeth, quick speech, highly active, anxious, and prefers sweet, sour, and salty foods.

    • Pitta: Composed of fire and water. Characteristics include:

    • Medium build, soft skin, intelligent but aggressive, enjoys light sleep, prefers sweet, bitter, and sharp-tasting foods.

    • Kapha: Composed of water and earth. Characteristics include:

    • Large-framed, thick skin, and slower in thought and speech; prefers bitter and pungent tastes.

Doshas and Gunas

  • Three Doshas: Components of the body.

  • Three Gunas: Components of the mind.

    • Sattva Guna

    • Free from disease; characterized by consciousness and clarity. Responsible for knowledge perception.

    • Rajas Guna

    • The most active guna; characterized by motion and desires. Psychological disorders often stem from rajas imbalances.

    • Tamas Guna

    • Produces disturbances in perception and activities; leads to delusions and apathy.

The Seven Categories of Disease

  1. Genetic Diseases

    • Caused by mutations or chromosomal abnormalities; environmental factors during pregnancy can affect genetic expression.

  2. Congenital Diseases

    • Brought on by improper conditions during pregnancy affecting fetal development.

  3. Constitutional Diseases

    • Caused by tridosha imbalances; can manifest physically or mentally.

  4. Traumatic Diseases

    • Results from external/internal wounds; includes injuries from sharp objects or animal bites.

  5. Seasonal Diseases

    • Caused by sudden climate changes; includes frostbite, heat stroke, etc.

  6. Infectious and Spiritual Diseases

    • Stemming from natural disasters or invisible malignancies like bacteria.

  7. Natural Diseases

    • Related to normal aging processes and can be exacerbated by unhealthy lifestyles.

The Eightfold Examination

  • A method to assess health and dosha balance:

    • Pulse: Assessing circulation and health.

    • Tongue Appearance: Evaluating body health and dosha balance.

    • Voice: Observing changes in voice as an indicator of health.

    • Skin Appearance: Analyzing skin condition for health insights.

    • Eyes: Examining eye condition for indications of disease.

    • General Appearance: Overall assessment of the patient.

    • Urine Examination: Biological assessment for dosha balance.

    • Stool Examination: Digestive health evaluation.

Plants Used in Ayurveda

  • Plants serve dual purposes of food and medicine in Ayurveda, aiding in balance restoration.

Six Tastes in Ayurveda (Shadrasa)

  • Madhura (Sweet Taste)

    • Composed of earth and water; pleasant and mild; treats wounds, constipation.

    • Increases Kapha, decreases Vata and Pitta.

  • Amla (Sour Taste)

    • Composed of earth and fire; invigorating, strengthens Kapha and Pitta, reduces Vata.

  • Katu (Pungent Taste)

    • Composed of air and fire; stimulates appetite, increases salivation; strengthens Vata and Pitta, reduces Kapha.

  • Tikta (Bitter Taste)

    • Composed of air and space; reduces salivation, stimulates appetite; increases Vata, reduces Pitta and Kapha.

  • Kashaya (Astringent Taste)

    • Composed of air and earth; creates dryness in the mouth and throat; increases Vata, reduces Pitta and Kapha.

  • Lavana (Salty Taste)

    • Composed of water and fire; promotes digestion, moistens; increases Kapha and Pitta, decreases Vata.

Examples of Plant Treatments in Ayurveda

  • Aloe (Aloe spp.)

    • Used for wounds, constipation; pacifies Vata and Pitta.

  • Sweet Basil (Ocimium sativum)

    • Used for vomiting, diarrhea; pacifies Kapha and Vata.

  • Camellia (Camellia japonica)

    • Used for migraine, gas; pacifies Vata and Pitta.

  • Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora)

    • Used for cough and indigestion; pacifies Vata and Kapha.

  • Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylonicum)

    • Treats bronchitis, vaporizes digestive issues; pacifies Vata and Pitta.

  • Orange (Citrus sinensis)

    • Treats urinary retention; pacifies Vata and Pitta.

  • Coffee (Coffea arabica)

    • Treats migraine, fever; pacifies Kapha.