Traditional system of medicines – Ayurveda

Traditional system of medicines – Ayurveda

Content

•       Role of Ayurveda in traditional
systems of medicine

•       Principle of Ayurveda

Objective

At the
end of this lecture, student will be able to

•       Discuss the role of Ayurveda in
traditional systems of medicine

•       Explain the principle of Ayurveda

Traditional systems of medicine

Ø  Traditional
systems like Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani impart knowledge about folklore
practices and medicinal importance of drugs of natural origin

Ø  The
standardization of these drugs is essential since, these drugs are used to
treat various ailments of human being

Ø  The
role of medicinal plants in traditional system made them back bone of these
systems

Ø  Traditional
medicine is the sum of the knowledge, skills and beliefs of different cultures
of different countries for the maintenance of health                     

Ayurveda

Ø  Ayurveda
– Oldest system of traditional medicine

Ø  Dominant
herbal tradition in India

Ø  Enjoys
a faith of large number of people

Ø  Spectrum
of influence is being enlarged as it is encouraged in many countries like
Japan, Germany etc

Ø  Ayurveda
– Two Sanskrit words

       Ayur –
Life,   Veda – Knowledge /Science

       Ayurveda is
knowledge of life or science of life

Ø  Ayurveda
– Incorporates Science and religion

Ø  Aim
include enhancing well being and increasing longevity

Ø  Essence
of Ayurveda lies in providing “ Swasthya “  which is a union of physical, emotional and
spiritual health

Ø  About
5000 years evolved from the deep wisdom of rishies of Himalaya

Ø  Knowledge
had been transmitted orally from teachers to disciples

Ø  Finally
took the form of Vedas during 1500 BC

Ø  Punarvasu
athreya – Ayurveda school

Ø  Recorded
medicinal knowledge of  many plants

Ø  Charaka
– Charaka Samhitha, more than 1500 medicinal herbs

Ø  Sushrutha
samhitha – Basis for modern surgery

Ø  About
75-80% of population is still relying on herbal medicine especially in
developing countries because of better compatibility and lesser side effects.

Principle:

Ø   Based on concept of five basic elements
(Pancha mahabhuthas) and tri doshas

Ø  Whole
universe is made up of five basic elements

Ø  Whole
universe – Material world, plant kingdom an other living beings

Ø  All
the five elements – Basis of all matter

Basic elements

Properties, location / manifestations

Tri Doshas

Ø  Tridoshas
exist in everything and influence physical and mental processes

Ø  Tridoshas
in hormony with each other, however one of them is dominating in every human
being

Ø  Determines
Prakruthi of  the person

Ø  Body
type, temperament, susceptibility to illness – influenced by predominant dosha

Ø  Man
is born with a particular balance of doshas

Ø  Balance
of doshas of parents at the time of conception determines the proportion of
doshas

Ø  Health
– Total harmony of  vata, pitta and kapha

Ø  Sickness
– Imbalance of any one or more of doshas

Ø  Aggregation
of pitta – Indigestion, skin diseases, liver problems

Ø  Aggregation
of vata – Nerve problems

Ø  Aggregation
of kapha – Gastric problems

Ø  Physical,
mental and environmental factors contribute for the imbalance of doshas

Selection of drugs:

Selection

1.       Rasa (Taste)

2.       Virya (Potency)

3.       Vipaka (Taste after digestion)

Rasa (Taste) :

Role of herbs in cosmetics

Virya : Hot drug and cold drugs

Ø  Hot
drugs – Drumstick, garlic

Ø  Cold
drugs – Jeera, Amla

Vipaka : Taste after digestion

Summary

Ø  Science/knowledge
of life

Ø  Five
basic elements and tridoshas

Ø  Akasha,
vayu, jala, agni, and pruthvi – basis for all matters

Ø  Kapha,
pitta and vata

Ø   Tridohas – combination of  different elements

Ø  Doshas
– Nature of person, imbalance leads to sickness

Ø  Selection
of drugs – Rasa, virya and vipaka

Ø  Six
rasas, three vipakas

Ø  Virya
– hot and cold