Ayurveda is an ancient Indian doctrine of the harmony of soul and body, combining philosophical and scientific ideas. Ayurvedic principles have influenced many religions, they are successfully applied in medicine, mental practices, self-improvement systems.
Origins and principles of teaching
The exact time of the birth of Ayurveda is unknown. Some moments, consonant with modern teaching, are found in ancient Indian treatises, references are found in works on medicine and philosophy. Some scholars believe that Ayurveda has been developing for about 5 thousand years and that it is she who underlies Chinese and Tibetan traditional medicine.
The essence of Ayurveda is a combination of scientific knowledge and the ancient philosophical system of Sankhya. Today, teaching is practiced not only in India, but also in Nepal, Indonesia, Myanmar and some other countries. Ayurvedic elements form the basis of some religious teachings, they are professed by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains.
Translated from Sanskrit, "Ayurveda" means "the science of longevity and life." However, this is not at all a collection of theories removed from life. Ayurvedic principles are quite applicable in everyday life; some branches of medicine, cosmetology, and proper nutrition are based on them.
The main directions of the system are simplicity, harmony of man and nature, the acquisition of mental and physical peace. The Teaching conveys the idea that the meaning of life is an endless path to self-knowledge and self-improvement, the crown of which should be the harmony of the inner and the outer. At the same time, Ayurveda is not inclined to impose its own principles; they can be used in the dose and interpretation that is necessary. It is this concept of conformism that makes teaching in demand in modern life. Ayurvelic ideas can be used by a person belonging to any confession or even far from religion.
Medicine as the basis of teaching
Achieving mental harmony is unthinkable without improving physical health. That is why medicine is of great importance in Ayurvedic teaching. Indian scientific treatises identify 8 main areas dedicated to specific areas of medicine:
- Kaumara Bhritya. Covers a wide range of pediatrics, from pregnancy and breastfeeding to health improvement and upbringing of children of various ages.
- Kaya Chikitsa. From the point of view of Ayurvedic medicine, it is considered the main section. Dedicated to the treatment of ailments that have no connection with a specific organ of the body: diabetes, hysteria, anemia.
- Shalakya Tantra. A narrower section deals exclusively with eye diseases.
- Shalya Tantra. Includes all questions related to obstetrics and surgery.
- Agada Tantra. A very relevant topic in antiquity, dedicated to the elimination of various poisons from the body. Today, this section can deal not only with the bites of poisonous creatures, but also with chemical intoxication.
- Vajikarana Tantra. Solves issues of infertility, impotence and other problems in the field of reproduction.
- Bhutavidya. In ancient times, this area related to witchcraft and its effects on humans. In modern treatises, questions of various psychological techniques are studied, for example, hypnosis.
- Rasayana Tantra. Section devoted to the issues of longevity.
In India, doctors working in the Ayurvedic system are called upadhi. Most doctors deal with only one branch of medicine, but there are also universal specialists who can determine the main problem of a particular patient.
From the point of view of Ayurveda, the mental and physical state of a person is influenced by 5 primary elements (panchamahabhut):
- water;
- land;
- the fire;
- air;
- ether.
Japa (water) controls all fluids in the body, prithvi (earth) is responsible for solid elements: bones, teeth. The sphere of influence of frond or air is the state of mind of a person and his general well-being. Akasha or ether governs all internal organs of a person: heart, liver, kidneys, circulatory system. Agni (fire) is responsible for the production of certain enzymes, such as bile or gastric juice.
For the body to function properly, a balance of the elements is necessary. From the point of view of Ayurveda, the predominance of one element to the detriment of others can provoke illness, mental or physical. The task of Ayurvedic medicine is to balance the balance by supporting an underdeveloped element and reducing the level of that which is in excess.
Ayurveda: theory of three doshas
According to the teachings, the five primary elements are combined into basic energies, called doshas:
- pita (fire and water);
- cotton wool (air and ether);
- kapha (earth and water).
Ayurveda teaches that one or another dosha prevails in the human body, and this balance can be determined by examining the patient's appearance. The treatises indicate 7 types of bodily constitution. Tridosha is considered the most perfect - the perfect balance of all elements. A natural constitution of this type is rare, the task of the upadhi is to bring a person to the ideal.
The study of a person and the exact determination of the prevailing elements helps the doctor to accurately determine the cause of the disease, which is in its initial stage, and to begin treatment in a timely manner.
Physical assessment is not the only basis for learning. The Huns - the energies of the mind - also influence the human condition. Ayurvedists distinguish 3 main gunas:
- sattva (kindness, beauty, compassion);
- rajas (aggression, passion, irrepressible energy);
- tamas (ignorance, laziness, depression, negativism).
Guna, taking over, has a significant impact not only on character, but also on the physical condition of a person and is often a provoking factor for serious ailments. An accurate determination of the prevailing doshas and Huns allows you to correctly determine the diagnosis and recommend a healing or restorative program.
Diagnostics and treatment
A doctor who adheres to Ayurvedic techniques acts according to a predetermined program. It includes:
- listening to the pulse;
- examination of urine and feces;
- language learning;
- analysis of voice and breathing (volume, intensity, timbre);
- palpation (palpation of various organs, especially the abdominal cavity);
- general analysis of the patient's appearance;
- eye analysis.
The doctor conducts all research without additional devices, focusing only on his own feelings and experience. After the diagnosis is made, treatment is prescribed.
The basis of recovery is proper nutrition. In Ayurvedic treatises, the idea is developed that it is food that can affect the health and quality of human life, well-being and longevity depend on it.
With the right food you can balance the energy of the doshas. It is believed that certain foods and dishes are able to activate a particular energy. The time of food intake, its temperature, quantity, and the right combination also matter. Spices, which are given special importance in Ayurveda, are capable of changing the ratio of elements.
In addition to the nutrition program, the therapeutic system includes natural medicines based on herbs. Ayurveda teaches that synthetic drugs accumulate in the organs and, over time, provoke serious health problems. Doctors who adhere to Ayurvedic principles do not even use synthesized vitamin complexes and select natural analogues of all known medicinal components. Traditional cosmetology meets the same rules. Natural cosmetics without synthetic preservatives, created according to Ayurvedic methods, are popular all over the world and are produced not only in India, but also in other countries.
Medical practices also include external work with the body: massage, yoga, impact on biologically active points. Meditation is very important to achieve physical and mental harmony.