Shri Dhanwantaraye Namaha

INTRODUCTION TO AYURVEDA

By,

DR. V. RAJENDRA
M D (Ayu) M. S (Counseling & Psychotherapy)

Asst. Professor, GAMC, Mysore.

Ayurveda
Aims

Maintenance of health Treatment of the diseased

Definition of Health according to Ayurveda

Health can be defined as a state of an individual in which his doshas , dhatus, agni & malas are in equilibrium, at the same time his manas, atma, sensory faculty are in a state of well being and optimum efficiency.

Components of Ayu
Hitayu Ahitayu

Sukhayu
Dukhayu

History of Ayurveda
As

per the mythology Lord Brahma is considered to be the founder of Ayurveda which was propagated to the people on earth by sage Bharadwaja. As per the preaching of sage Bharadwaja various seers wrote their own treatises based on their fields of interest which in turn lead to the emergence of 8 branches of Ayurveda.

Maintenance Of Health
The entire practice of maintaining health is raised on the pillars of three essential concepts. These are:

Diet Sleep Sexual Practices & Other Behavioural patterns

Source material of Ayurveda

Bruhatrayis Charaka Samhita Sushruta Samhita Ashtanga Hrudaya Laghutrayis Sharangadhara samhita Madhava nidana Bhavaprakasha

BRANCHES OF AYURVEDA

Kayachikitsa

Bala roga
Graha roga

Shalya tantra
Shalakya tantra Visha chikitsa Jara chikitsa Vajeekarana chikitsa

Facts & Myths

People

believe that Ayurvedic medicines do not have side effects, the fact is that even Ayurvedic medicines cause adverse effects when they are not used properly because treatment in Ayurveda is based upon the individualistic approach. Ayurvedic medicines take longer time to heal! Response to a drug depends on chronicity of disease, age, selection of drug & many other factors. If properly treated the patient will definitely respond instantaneously.

Health preservation / promotion methods

Dinacharya
The fundamental rules of personal and social hygiene are to be followed regularly, building up the immunity against most of the ailments in order to enhance the quality of life and increase longevity, is a task achievable even in the present lifestyle.

Dinacharya
Right

from waking up in the morning till

sleeping at night, all the daily routines have been given utmost importance in Ayurveda.

Waking Up Hours

Brahmi muhurta. A healthy person should get up approximately two hours before sunrise.

Before coming out of sleep one should observe

that digestion of food taken on previous night

should be complete which can be elicited by

following signs

Jeerna Ahara Lakshanas

Udgara shuddhi Utsaha Yathochita Vegot sarga Laghuta Ksut Pipasa

Vyayama/ Exercises

Regular light exercises help the body to shape up, increase muscle strength, improve appetite and maintains health.

It gives the body the ability to withstand exertion, fatigue, and changes in the climate such as fluctuations in temperature.

Exercise is most beneficial in winter and spring. It is best when

done to the extent of half the exercising capacity. When sweat

appears on the forehead and armpits, respiration speeds up and

one starts breathing through the mouth, the exercise should be stopped.

Abhyanga

Daily Abhyanga to whole body after exercise is indicated for maintaining proper hygiene and functioning of tactile sensation.

It should be done with Luke warm oil in a direction away

from heart .

Excess pressure while massaging is to be avoided. Bath is indicated after half an hour of Abhyanga.

Rest and Sleep

To

carry out various tasks with full strength

and vitality, one should get enough amount of sleep every day. Before going to bed one should meditate, and critically examine one's own conduct. Usually six to eight hours of sleep give sufficient rest to the body and mind.

Scientific Laws of Personal Hygiene

Regular trimming of nails, beard and hair;

Daily cleansing of nostrils, eyes, ears and feet;

Use of perfumes and garlands made of fragrant flowers; Putting on clean clothes; Use of umbrella and shoes to protect from heat and dust; Covering the mouth while sneezing, laughing or yawning;

Avoid seeing the sun directly;

Avoid sleeping under a tree at night, etc.

Ethical regimen
In

order to live a healthy and active life, a

sound mind in the sound body is very essential. Therefore, to maintain the healthy status of the mind, Ayurveda prescribes a code of social as well as personal conduct, known as "Sadvritta".

Rutu charya (Seasonal Regimens)

Specific

regimen has been mentioned for the 6

seasons (shishira, vasanta, greeshma, varsha,

sharad. Hemanta)

Seasonal Regimens

Vamana In Vasanta Rutu Virechana In Sharat Rutu Basti In Varsha Rutu Karnapoorana Akshi tarpana Shirodhara, Shiropichu etc .. & many more.

Importance of food
As

per Ayurveda, food affects the mind also by

causing either an increase or decrease in the three qualities of mind, i.e., Satva guna, Rajo guna and

Tamo guna. The food recipes can be classified as

Satvika, Rajasika or Tamasika depending upon the

effects.

Application In Today's Scenario

In today's present scenario it has become really

important for each one of us to maintain a good

health. With so much of pollution in the environment, food adulteration, untimely working hours and unhealthy lifestyle it has become mandatory for everyone to look after his /her own health. That's why the Dinacharya is to be followed in accordance with the present context.

Application In Today's Scenario

Waking up in the morning is always good for health. But if you are working late nights, then you should set your biological clock accordingly. Six to eight

hours sleep is a must. Drinking a glass of Luke-warm

water helps to flush out all toxins accumulated

overnight in the body.

Application In Today's Scenario

As we say 'cleanliness is next to godliness' in this case

cleanliness is also very important factor to maintain good

health because personal hygiene is really important. Clean teeth and mouth. Brushing of teeth should be repeated after

every meal. Cleaning of tongue freshens up the mouth and

also stimulates the secretions of digestive enzymes. Proper cleaning of nose, ears and washing eyes with warm water held in mouth for moments is advised. Keep your hair trimmed, nails filed and wear clear, clean clothes .

Application In Today's Scenario

A regular self-massage with herbal oil is necessary for every

person.

It makes the skin supple, enhances blood circulation, encourages quicker removal of the wastes and relaxes the body. Along with food, hygiene, sleep exercise and meditation is also very important.

Regular light exercises help the body to shape up, increase

muscle strength, improve appetite and maintain health.

Application In Today's Scenario

Yoga, swimming, walking and even laughing are excellent

options.

Your dressing is also important so always wear clean, airy

and light clothes of natural fibers like cotton, wool, linens,

or silk.

Similarly breakfast, lunch and dinner should be done on time to maintain the regularity.

Vega dharana/udeerana
For living a normal healthy life , it is necessary that the natural urges has to be passed in time without suppressing them. Non suppressible urges are urine, faeces, semen, flatus, vomit, sneeze, yawn, belching, tears, hunger and thirst. If they are suppressed they cause various diseases. Suppressible urges are lobha, shoka, bhaya, krodha, irshya, lajja and atiraga.

PANCHAKARMAS
Panchakarmas are the five purificatory procedures which include:
1.

Vamana

2.
3. 4. 5.

Virechana
Vasti Nasya Raktamokshana

Panchakarmas as per seasons

Vamana In Vasanta Rutu Virechana In Sharat Rutu Basti In Varsha Rutu Karnapoorana Akshi tarpana Shirodhara, Shiropichu etc .. & many more.

Importance of food

Diet plays a vital role in the maintenance of good health and in the prevention and cure of diseases. In ancient Indian scriptures, food has been compared with the God, (Annam Brahmam) since it is the main factor, which

sustains and nourishes life. In Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta,

Lord Krishna has compared himself with the digestive

fire, which assimilates and digests all the four types of

food in order to maintain the life.

Diet
Diet

is given maximum importance in healthy

as well as in diseased status. It is said in ancient Indian literature that if dietetics is followed, medicine is not needed and if dietetics is not observed, even medicines are not useful.

Assessment of prakruti
Bodily constitution is of three types
Vata prakruti

Pitta prakruti
Kapha prakruti

Specific recommendation of diet and activities

Each

individual is recommended to follow

specific diet & activities based on his prakruti.

For

example individual having Kapha prakruti

should involve more in physical activities like exercise whereas a person of vaata constitution is not supposed to do so.