Ayurveda - The Ancient Medical System

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The Vedas are observed as one of the oldest and most holy written record of knowledge. The words of the Vedas were carefully learned by heart according to material chants and transmitted from generation to generation. The Vedas state that the Supreme Being who formed the universe, out of love and concern for humanity, gave the Vedas to all mankind through the Rishis or soothsayers of wisdom. There are four Vedas - Rig, Yajur, Sama and Adharvana- has come down to us through quite a lot of thousands of years of verbal transmission before finally being recorded in writing.

THE RIG VEDA: The foundation stone of the other Vedas and contains, in ten books called Mandalas, 1028 Suktas or hymns and a total of 10572 verses.

THE YAJUR VEDA: It has 1975 stanzas in 40 chapters of both verses and prose.

THE SAMA VEDA: It has 1800 verses repeated from Rig veda and 75 original verses.

THE ADHARVANA VEDA: It has 5977 verses, distributed among 731 suktas.

Though all the Vedas enclose references to Ayur vedic notions, the Adharvana veda holds more of these. Ayur veda is measured to be an supplementary teaching of the Adharvana veda.

Ayurveda is often incorrectly associated with herbs only. In actual detail it has a huge picture that includes among other things, Yoha and Panchakarma. Diet and digestion are revolves on which most of its conjectures are based both in physiology as well as in pathology. The basic philosophy of Ayurveda is based on the five element theory. From this theory develops the notion of controlling forces (doshas) which act on the tissus (Dhatus), giving increase to various metabolic products (malas). The science of Ayurveda has cut down the organizational layout of the human body into three basic mechanism: Dosas, Dhatus and Malas.

The complete science of Ayurveda is based on the five great constituent theory. Thus, all matter from tissues and organs to diet and doshas, are built on the foundation of this theory. The five rudiments are Earth (prithivi), Water (jal), Fire (agni), Air (vayu) and Space (akash). All matters in the universe are made up of these elements. The earth represents the hard state, water the liquid state, air the gaseous state, fire the transforming (force) state, and space is at the same time the source of all matters and the space in which it lives.

A momentous concept of Ayurveda is that each individual is genetically dissimilar - this gives him or her a very precise constitution and also a very individual way of interrelating with the environment. Thus each person knows best what suits his or her body and what does not. It is true that a person may not be prejudiced by the changing climate but an old person may become stiff with rheumatism at the faintest aroma of a cool breeze. Ayurveda tells us of the frame work in which we can adjust our life styles to optimize our bodily functions, in what is described as ritucharya and dinacharha.

Ayurveda teaches that man is a microcosm, a universe within himself. He is a child of the cosmic forces of the external environment, the macrocosm. His individual existence is indivisible from the total cosmic manifestation. Ayurveda views health and "diseases" in holistic terms, taking into consideration the inherent relationship between individual and cosmic spirit, individual and cosmic consciousness, energy and matter. According to the teachings of Ayurveda, every human being has four biological and spiritual instincts: religious, financial, procreative and the instinct towards freedom. Balanced good health is the foundation for the fulfilment of these instincts. Ayurveda helps the healthy person to maintain health, and the diseased person to regain health. It is a medical metaphysical healing life-science, the mother of all healing arts. The practice of Ayurveda is designed to promote human happiness, health and creative growth.

Through studying the teachings of Ayurveda, the practical knowledge of self-healing may be acquired by anyone. By the proper balance of all energies in the body, the processes of physical deterioration and disease can be impressively reduced. This concept is basic to Ayurvedic Science: The capability of the individual for self-healing. Ayurveda, yoga and Tantra are the ancient life-disciplines that have been practiced in India for centuries. They are mentioned in the scriptures of the Vedas and Upanishads. Yoga is the science of union with the Divine, with truth: Tantra is the most direct method of controlling the energy that creates the ultimate union with truth; and Ayurveda is the science of life.

The purpose of each practice is to help the individual to achieve longevity, rejuvenation and self-realization. The object of the practices of Yoga and Tantra is liberation, although only certain disciplined individuals are able to achieve this ultimate goal through these practices. However, Ayurvda can be practiced successfully by any one for the achievement of good health and longevity. In the spiritual evolution of a man, Ayurveda is the foundation. Yoga is the body and Tantra is the head. It is necessary first to understand Ayurveda in order to experience the practices of Yoga and Tantra. Thus, Aurveda, Yoga, Tantra form an interdependent trinity of life. None of these practices stands alone. The health of the body, mind and consciousness depends as the knowledge and practice of those three in daily life.

The Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai/India has tied up with the centre council for research in Ayurveda and Siddha to conduct research and development projects in the Indian systems of medicine. The research work would concentrate on developing 'evidence-based medicine and the establishment of a 'standardized lab' are planned.

Dr. Meera Mustafa Hussain, Vice Chancellor of the Dr. M.G.R . Medical University said: "Evidence-based medicine is an analysis of the way a drug works. From the time it enters the body, the process of absorption of the medicine, the way it acts, the changes it brings about in the body and the method of its breaking down and excretion from the body is studied.