Eight components of Ayurveda[edit] This section needs additional citations for v

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In classical Sanskrit literature, Ayurveda was called "the science of eight comp
onents" (Sanskrit a??a?ga ???????), a classification that became canonical for A
yurveda:[8][9]
(General medicine) Kaya-chikitsa: "cure of diseases affecting the body"
(Pediatrics) Kaumara-bh?tya: "treatment of children"
(Surgery) Shalya-chikitsa: "removal of any substance which has entered the body
(as extraction of darts, of splinters, etc.)"
(Ophthalmology / ENT/Dentistry) Salakya-tantra: "cure of diseases of the teeth,
eye or ear etc. by sharp instruments"[dubious discuss]
(Demonology / exorcism / psychiatry) Bhoot (ghost)-vidya: "treatment of mental d
iseases"
(Toxicology) Agada-tantra:Gada means Poison. "doctrine of antidotes"
(Anti Agings) Rasayana-tantra: "doctrine of Rasayana"
(Aphrodisiacs) Vajikara?a tantra
Principles and terminology[edit]
Several philosophers in India combined religion and traditional medicinenotable e
xamples being that of Hinduism and Ayurveda. Shown in the image is the philosoph
er Nagarjunaknown chiefly for his doctrine of the Madhyamaka (middle path)who wrot
e medical works The Hundred Prescriptions and The Precious Collection, among oth
ers.[10]
The three do?as and the 5 elements from which they are composed.There are two wa
ys in which to approach Ayurvedic principles and terminology: one may either foc
us on the historical foundation (as evidenced in the oldest Ayurvedic texts, goi
ng back to the early centuries of the Common Era) or, alternatively, a descripti
on may take an ethnographic approach and focus on the forms of traditional medic
ine prevalent across India today.
Much like the medicine of classical antiquity, Ayurveda has historically taken t
he approach of enumerating bodily substances in the framework of the five classi
cal elements (Sanskrit [maha]panchabhuta, viz. earth, water, fire, air and aethe
r. Moreover, Ayurveda names seven basic tissues (dhatu). They are plasma (rasa),
blood (rakta), muscles (ma?sa), fat (meda), bone (asthi), marrow (majja), and s
emen (shukra).[11]
Further information: Mahabhuta
Ayurveda states that a balance of the three elemental substances, the Doshas, eq
uals health, while imbalance equals disease. There are three doshas: Vata, Pitta
and Kapha. One Ayurvedic theory states that each human possesses a unique combi
nation of these doshas which define this person's temperament and characteristic
s. Each person has a natural state, or natural combination of these three elemen
ts, and should seek balance by modulating their behavior or environment. In this
way they can increase or decrease the doshas they lack or have an abundance of
respectively. Another view present in the ancient literature states that dosha e
quality is identical to health, and that persons with imbalance of dosha are pro
portionately unhealthy, because they are not in their natural state of balance.
Prakriti is one of the most important concepts in Ayurveda.
Further information: Dosha
In Ayurvedic theory, there are 20 qualities or characteristics (gu?as), which ar
e inherent in all substances. They can be arranged in ten pairs of antonyms: hea
vy/light, cold/hot, unctuous/dry, dull/sharp, stable/mobile, soft/hard, non-slim
y/slimy, smooth/coarse, minute/gross, viscous/liquid.[12]
Further information: Guna
Ensuring the proper functions of channels (srotas) that transport fluids is one
part of Ayurvedic treatment, because a lack of healthy channels is thought to ca
use diseases. Practitioners treat patients with massages using oils and Swedana
(fomentation) to open up these channels.[13]
Hinduism and Buddhism have had an influence on the development of many of Ayurve
da's central ideas.[14] Balance is emphasised; suppressing natural urges is cons
idered unhealthy and claimed to lead to illness;[14] to suppress sneezing, for e
xample, may give rise to shoulder pain.[15] However, people are also cautioned t
o stay within the limits of reasonable balance and measure when following nature
's urges.[14] For example, emphasis is placed on moderation of food intake,[16]
sleep, and sexual intercourse.[14]