Ayurveda

Dr.M.Hemanth
Kumar
MSc.Ph.D.MBA The Ancient
Science
Definition
Ayurveda is a holistic approach to
health that is designed to help people
live long, healthy, and well-balanced
lives. The term Ayurveda is taken from
the ancient Indian language, Sanskrit
words Ayus, meaning life or lifespan,
and Veda meaning knowledge literally
means "Knowledge of Life".
Evolution
Ayurvedic medicine (also called
Ayurveda) is one of the worlds oldest
medical systems. It originated in India
and has evolved there over thousands of
years. The "contemporary" form of
Ayurvedic medicine is mostly derived
from several sacred Indian texts which
were written in Sanskrit between 1500
BC and 400 AD.
Objective
Supreme Scholars of Ayurveda- Charka
and Sushruta have told that- Objective
of Ayurveda is "Swasthsya
Swaasthyarakshanam" i.e. to maintain
the positive health of a healthy person
and "Aaturasya Vikar Prashanam" i.e. to
cure the disease of the patient.
 Ayurveda
Ayu + Veda

LIFE: The unified State of SCIENCE

Body, Mind & Soul (Knowledge)

Ayurveda = Science of Life

History of

Ayurveda
Ayurveda the Wisdom of Life

Offers a proven guide for a life of

happiness, vitality, love and
purpose.

Human beings are not viewed as

mere thinking physical machines,
but

Rather as fields of intelligence in

dynamic exchange with the
Ayurveda a holistic system

A Comprehensive System with

equal emphasis on the body,
mind and spirit

Strives to restore the innate

harmony of the individual

It is not only about treating

sickness but preventing
disease and enhancing health,
longevity, vitality and
 Vedas

It is the bedrock upon which Ayurveda

rests
Considered to be composed around
1500-2000 BC
Four Vedas
Rig-veda :contains hymns to be
recited
Sam-veda : collection of hymns to be
sung
Yajur-veda : entire sacrificial rite
 Earliest Texts

760 BC : Charaka Samhita herbal or

plant based pharmacopoeia
660 BC : Sushruta Samhita Surgical
approaches
7th Century : Ashtanga Sangraha of
Vagbhata summary of previous
two
AD 100 : Nagarjuna iatrochemistry
1331 : Madhava Nidana by Madhava
Ayurvedic Diagnosis
14th Century :Sarangadhara Samhita
Pulse diagnosis
Eight Wings of Ayurveda (Ashtanga
Ayurveda)
Kaya Chikitsa
Shalya Chikitsa
Shalakya (Urdhvanga) Chikitsa
Bala (Kaumar-Bhritya) Chikitsa
Rasayana (Jara) Chikitsa
Vajikarana (Vrishya Chikitsa)
Bhoot Vidya (Graha Chikitsa)
Visha Chikitsa (Agad tantra)
 The Four Components of Life

Health according to Ayurveda is

perfect balance between

Body : Sharir
Senses : Indriya
Mind : Sattva
Spirit (Soul) : Atma
 PANCHAMAHABHUTA THEORY- 5 elements

AKASH VAYU AGNI JALA PRITHVI

Space Air Fire Water Earth

VATA PITTA KAPHA + SOUL

TRIDOSHA THEORY- 3 DOSHAS

HEALTH DISEASE
AYURVEDA
EQUILIBRIUM DISEQUILIBRIUM
of 3 DOSHAS of 3 DOSHAS
 Effecting Human Physiology

Space :

In the human body, many spaces are

aspects of the Space element.

The spaces in the mouth, nose,

gastrointestinal tract, respiratory
tract, abdomen, thorax, capillaries,
etc.
Effecting Human
Physiology
Air :
All movements involve Air as an
element.
The nature of the elements
themselves determine the nature of
physiology.
With the human body Air is present
in the pulsations of the heart, lungs
etc.
 Effecting Human
Physiology
Fire : The source of Fire and light in
the solar system is the sun.
In the human body, the source of
Fire is metabolism.
Fire works in the digestive system as
well as in the gray matter of the
brain, where Fire manifests as
intelligence. Fire also activates the
retina to perceive light.
Therefore body temperature,
digestion, thinking etc are all the
Effecting Human Physiology

Water:
It manifests in the body as the
secretions of digestive juices, in the
mucous membranes and in plasma
and cytoplasm.
Water is vital for the functioning of
all the systems of the body.
For example, dehydration resulting
from diarrhea and vomiting is due
to water element.
 Effecting Human
Physiology
Earth :
The fifth element, is also present in
the microcosm of the human being.

Life is possible on this planet

because the Earth holds all living and
non-living substances to its solid
surface.
The Four Components of
Life
1. Body
2. INDRIYA (Senses & Functions):
Gyan-Indriya (Senses) : Sight, Hearing,
Smell, Touch & Taste
Karm-Indriya (Voluntary functions) :

3. MANAS (Mind) : Supreme Indriya that

controls all Indriyas
Has three abstract qualities Sattva,
Rajas and Tamas.
The Four Components of Life

4. ATMA (Soul/Self) :

Param Atma : Supreme, immortal

pure has only Sattva, free of
happiness or sorrow.

Jiv Atma : resides in living body

attached to Rajas and Tamas,
witness every function & emotion
throughout the life.
Dosha, Dhatu and Mala
The concept of Dosha Dhatu Mala theory is
the basic philosophy of Ayurveda, which
deals about Tridoshas.
Doshas Functions
Vatta (wind) Mobility
Pitta (fire) Transformation
Consistency/Stabi
Kapha (water)
lity
 Tridosha
Ayurveda is based on 3
energies.

Their balanced state is health and

imbalance disease.
VATA the kinetic energy,
movement, division, growth, etc.
PITTA the thermal energy, heat
generation, intellect, sight, etc.
KAPHA the potential energy
Three Doshas (Tridoshas)

Tridoshas are Vata, Pitta & Kapha

Tridosha concept is applicable in living
organisms
Tridoshas are biological entities responsible
for structure, function and behaviour
dimensions of all living organisms
Therefore human body mind constitution
(Prakriti), diseases, Medicines and Food all
has been categorized in Vata type, Pitta
type and Kapha type.
But nothing is absolute pure; every thing is
permutation and combination of Tridoshas
Characteristics of Doshas
Vata Pitta Kapha
Dry Oily Oily
Cold Hot Cold
Light Light Heavy
Irregular Intense Stable
Mobile Fluid Viscous
Rarified Mal odorous Dense
Rough Liquid Smoth
 Five Fundamentals Elements of Ayurveda (Panchmahabhuta)
Panchmahabhuta Sensory Organs/work Properties and actions in the
body
Space (Aakash) Ears/Hearing Sound Akash forms vacuumed organs of
the body. All body channels,
working for the movement of the
nutrients and all other fluids. It
produces softness, lightness and
porosity
Air (Vayu or Pavan) Skin/Touch Governs inhalation, exhalation,
opening and closing of eyelids,
locomotion and other motor
functions. Air creates dryness,
lightness and emaciation.
Fire (Agni or Teja) Eyes/Visual (Sight) Fire controls temperature and luster
of body colour. It helps in digestion
and assimilation of food,
maturation and improves eye sight.
Water (Aap or Jala) Tongue/Taste Jal is the connecting force and fluid
part of the body and slimy, fat and
sweat by nature. It makes things
supple and smooth, Imparts
glossiness and Enhances fluid
content. It acts as nutrient,
emollient and purgative.
Earth (Prithvi or Bhoomi) Nose/Smell Prithvi controls organs as teeth,
nails, flesh, skin, tendons and
muscles. It is heavy, immobile,
compact and rough and increases
firmness & strength of the body. It
Concept of Sapta Dhatus
( 7 Body Tissues)
Body is made up of Seven Tissues and their
function is to maintain the body matrix
1. Rasa 5. Asthi
(Plasma) (Bones)

2. Rakta 6. Majja
(Blood) (Bone marrow)

3. Mansa 7. Shukra
(Muscles) (Reproductive
tissues)
4. Medas
(Fats) Ojas
(Responsible for Immunity)
 Concept of Prakriti
(Body Mind Constitution and Temperament)

Concept of Prakriti (human constitution) is

related to physiological attributes to health
and disease.

Prakriti is determined by relative

predominance of dosha in intra-uterine life of a
fetus.

Prakriti is unchangeable throughout the life

span, but

One can take remedial measures in diet and

behavior suitable to his/her prakriti to maintain
Significance of Prakriti in
Clinical Medicine
For Promotive & Preventive Health
Know your prakriti and diseases susceptibility
Prakriti will tell the risk factors, course of disease,
complications and prognosis
Follow your diet, behaviour, profession and life
style suitable to your prakriti to lead a healthy
life.
Curative Health
Select the drugs and dose as per prakriti
Drug body interaction and reaction pattern
depend upon the prakriti of individual & drug
Associated complications of a disease, prognosis
and their treatment can be improved as per
prakriti of disease & individual
 Ayurvedic Approach of Health and
Disease

Promotion Prevention
of of
Health Disease

Ayurveda
Science of Longevity
with quality of life

Holistic
management
of disease
The factors responsible for
prevention of illness and
promotion of health
Day regimen (Dinacharya)

Night regimen (Ratricharya )

Seasonal regimen
(Rutucharya)

Seasonal Purification (Rutu

anusara Shodhana)
 Definition of
Health

Dosha- 3 (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)

Physical & Agni - 13 (Metabolic fire)
Physiological
Dhatu - 7 (Body tissues)

Components Mala - 3 (Waste products)

of health Indriya - 5 (Sensory motor
Psychological organs)
Manas - 1 (Mind)
Spiritual Atma - Soul

One whose doshas, agni, functions of doshas and

malas are in state of equilibrium, who has cheerful
atman, mind, intellect and sense organs is
ypes of Treatment in Ayurveda:

here are two aspects of treatment in Ayurveda:

. Shamana Chikitsa (Curing of diseases - Alleviating Therapy)
. Shodhana Chikitsa (Prevention of diseases - Purification Therapy)
 Basic treatment
modalities
Pacification Treatment Purification Treatment
Pacifies doshas locally Removes doshas from body

Comparatively of Effect lasts for long

temporary action.
Done in minimal or Done in profound dosha
moderate dosha and of and of profound strength
minimal or moderate
strength

Does not interfere much Normalizes tissue (dhatu)

with tissues (dhatus) functions
 Rasayana
Rejuvenation Therapy
Delays Aging
Provide Immunity
Improve Memory and
sensory perception

Traditional way to be EVER

GREEN
Shodhana Chikitsa (Prevention of
diseases)
The main aim of Shodhana treatment is to eliminate the
internal causative factors of the disease. It is one the most
important techniques in Ayurveda and is an internal
purification process. Panchakarma therapeutic procedures
are used to facilitate the elimination of harmful factors
Vaman Emesis For Kapha dosha
through following processes:
Virechan Purgation For Pitta dosha
Basti Enema For Vatta dosha
Administrating
For Kapha dosha from
Nasya medicines especially
head
through nose
Raktamoks For Rakta and Pitta
Shamana Chikitsa (Curing of diseases)

Shamana is specially done after the Shodhana therapy and

in less vitiation. Ayurvedic medicines are used internally and
externally to manage the symptoms and cause of the
disease through the balancing the equilibrium of Dosha,
Dhatu, Mala and Agni and also to increase the Immunity. In
Ayurveda there are thousands of medicines consisting of
herbs, minerals and biological products, which are used
alone or in compound form to suppress and cure diseases,
particularly when the disease is at an early stage.
Ayurveda Vs Modern Medicine
Philosophy
M: treats discrete disease entities
A: treats subtle dysphoria, whose disruptive trends may later
develop into discrete disease
Diagnostic
M: scientific objectivity and verifiability (accumulating
statistically significant data) experience-distant
A: pratyaksha (perceptive understanding of each individual
experience-near
Treatment
M: Linear logic, categorical and uses a classification system of
disease
A: Maintenance of optimal health by daily proactive care,
continually modified according to seasonal changes
Belief
A: Individual has the innate capacity for potential self-correction
and primary self healing
Benefits of Ayurveda
Physical Benefits
The basic constitution
represents the individuals
psychological and physical
nature, distinctly.

Non-invasive diagnostic Ayurvedic

treatments are beneficial for chronic diseases
such as diabetes, heart ailments and cancer.

Difficult diseases like asthma and tumor

growths (gulmas) are managed effectively.
Benefits of Ayurveda
Detoxification methods like Panchakarma
and other herbal remedies make the body
more responsive to medicines and
treatment.

It hastens the healing process.

Yogasanas achieve the twin purpose of strengthening
body-parts such as bone, muscle and vital organs like
heart, liver, stomach, intestine as well as

Keeping out blood circulation and psychological

conditions strong and resilient.

A discerning diet according to ones dosha type,

and well regulated life (dinacharya) helps
strengthen ones natural immune system.
Benefits of Ayurveda
Psychological Benefits:
It is said that the condition of
body and mind are integral to
the overall health of an
individual.

Ayurvedic massages, inhalation

of herbal (Aromatherapy)
preparations, panchakarma
(nasya) besides much-tested
yogasanas and meditation leave
a calming effect on the nerves.
 Benefits of Ayurveda

Spiritual Benefits:
The treatment methods, diet and lifestyle
regimen in Ayurveda are meticulously
planned to heal the body as well enrich
the mind
So that each can improve from their own
levels to the higher goal of realizing the
full self-potential.

It was with Ayurveda that the unique

longevity and rejuvenating method of
Rasayana was born for mankind to
 Summary of Benefits of
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is not only treatment, it is a
way of life
Has no side effects
Gives happy, healthy disease free long
life
Makes you Tension Free
Relaxes mind
Provides knowledge about life
Tells about good and bad dietary
effects to life
Tells the way for life goals, with
keeping good health status
Thank You
Dr.M.Hemanth
Kumar
MSc.Ph.D.MBA
EMAIL : phytochem2@gmail.com
Research Head Patanjali
Haridwar , Uttarakhand - INDIA