Ayurveda
Relevance of traditional systems in health care is now being recognised more than ever before. It is estimated that the majority of the world population is still relying on traditional systems.
Ayurveda (Ayu + Veda) means the “science of life”. It is the oldest codified form of medicine known to the mankind. The documentation of Ayurveda is referred to in Vedas. The origin of Ayurveda is linked with the origin of Universe and developed from the various Vedic hymns describing fundamentals / philosophies about the world and life, diseases and medicines. The knowledge of Ayurveda was comprehensively documented in Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Sangraha, the three great treatises of Ayurveda. According to Ayurveda, health is considered a pre-requisite for achieving the goals of life, i.e., dharma, artha, kaama & moksha (salvation). Ayurveda takes an integrated view of the physical, mental, social and spiritual aspects of human beings.
The philosophy of Ayurveda is based on the theory of Pancha Maha Bhuta (Five primordial elements) of which all the objects and living bodies are composed of. Functionally, combination of these five elements is represented in the form of tridosha viz. vata (ether + air), pitta (fire) and kapha (water + earth) in living beings. In other words, three dosha (humours) are physiological entities in living beings where as the mental and spiritual attributes are described in terms of satva, rajas and tamas. The doctrine of Ayurveda aims to keep these structural and functional entities in a functional state of equilibrium which signifies good health - swasthaya. Any imbalance due to internal or external factors causes disease and restoring the equilibrium through various techniques, procedures, regimen, diet and medicine constitute the treatment.
Ayurveda considers human beings as a microcosm (mini-universe) of macrocosm (universe). This means that humans are part of universe and holds in itself the miniature universe. The treatment in Ayurveda system is individualized. Treatment in Ayurveda has two components viz., preventive and curative. Preventive aspect of Ayurveda is called Swasthavritha which includes personal hygiene, daily / seasonal regimen, appropriate social behaviour and use of rejuvenating drugs / procedures (rasayana).
The curative treatment consists of (i) oushadha (drugs), (ii) kriyakrama (procedures) which can be classified as pre-operative procedures (sneha, sweda etc.), panchakarma (five cleansing processes), surgical procedures, para-surgical procedures (jalooka avacharana, kshara karma, agni karma etc) and post-operative procedures (peyadi, tharpana etc.) (iii) anna (diet) and (iv) vihara (exercises and daily routine of life). During the samhita period Ayurveda developed into eight branches of specialties, which was a reason for it being called Ashtanga Ayurveda.
These are:
- Kayachikitsa (Internal medicine)
- Kaumara Bhruthya (Paediatrics)
- Graha Chikitsa (Psychology and Psychiatry)
- Shalakya Tantra (Eye, ENT & Dentistry)
- Shalya Tantra (Surgery and Orthopaedics)
- Agada Tantra (Toxicology)
- Rasayana (Rejuvenation / Gerontology / Geriatrics)
- Vajeekarana (Infertility / Aphrodisiacs / Sexual medicine)
During the last 60 years of development, it has now developed into twenty specialities. These are:
- Ayurveda Sidhanta (Fundamental principles of Ayurveda)
- Ayurveda Samhita (Classical literature)
- Rachana Shareera (Anatomy)
- Kriya Shareera (Physiology)
- Dravya Guna Vijnana (Medicinal Plants & Pharmacology)
- Rasa Sastra (Alchemy and Mineralogy)
- Bhaishajya Kalpana (Pharmaceutical Formulations)
- Kaumara Bhritya – Bala Roga (Paediatrics)
- Prasuti Tantra and Stri Roga (Obstetrics &Gynaecology)
- Swasthavritha (Social & Preventive Medicine)
- Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine)
- Roga Nidana and Vikriti Vijnana (Pathology)
- Shalya Tantra (General Surgery / Orthopaedics)
- Shalya Tantra – Kshara Karma / Anushastra Karma (Para Surgical Procedures).
- Shalakya Tantra – Netra Roga (Ophthalmology)
- Shalakya Tantra – Siro-Nasa-Karna and Kantha Roga (ENT)
- Shalakya Tantra – Danta and Mukha Roga (Dentistry)
- Manovijnanam and Manasika Roga (Psychology and Psychiatry)
- Panchakarma (The purificatory therapies)
- Agada Tantra, Vyavahara Ayurveda and Vidhi Vaidyaka (Toxicology and Medical Jurisprudence)
Kerala is the first state in the country to separate the traditional systems of medicine into Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga & Naturopathy respectively. All these branches are promoted here separately under AYUSH department. Kerala is the only state in India where Ayurveda is practiced in its most genuine and authentic form.