Basic Information about Ayurveda
This Article gives basic information about Ayurveda.
Basics of Ayurveda Medicine Practise
Ayurveda is an age old Practice of Medicine which was found in India and is nearly more than 5000 years old.
Dhanvantari is the Physician of the Gods according to Hindu Mythology.
Ayurveda is based on Philosophical Medicine and is based on Meta-Physics. The Medicine Practise according to Ayurveda is based on Five Great Elements of Human Body. The Five Great Elements of the Human Body are also known as the Panch-MahaBhuta or [महा] पञ्चभूत in Devanagiri.
The Five Basic Elements - The Panchamahabhutas - [महा] पञ्चभूत
The Five Elements are Earth (Prithvi), Water (Jal / Aap), Fire (Tej), Air (Vaayu) and Ether or Sky (Akash).
These Five elements combine in different Permutations and Combinations to form everything in the Universe and thus also includes the Human Body.
According to Ayurvedic Science, these Five Basic Elements combine to form Seven Primary Elements of the Human body - The Saptadhatu (सप्तधातु) which are as follows:
On the basic concepts. Ayurveda Medicine Philosophy explains in elaboration, the ways by which healthful life can be lived during the entire span of life and during its various phases.
Ayurveda explains about the Three Humors also known as Three Elemental Energies or The Doshas - Tridoshas - त्रिदोष - The balance of which maintains harmony of Health.
They are:
To these were attributed the perceivance of experiences by the human body which were 20 Guna - गुण, meaning qualities.
Ayurvedic treatments focus on the following basic necessities to lead to vitality:
Surgery and Surgical measures were also mastered by the Ayurvedic Physicians and has a large subject of its own on Surgery and Surgical Instruments.
Ayurveda also focusses on Practise of Yoga, Exercise, Meditation and also massage to address the needs of treating the spirit, the consciousness and also the ease of the mind and thebody, to ensure perfect treatment of the person as a whole.
Another classical feature of Ayurveda is the Panchkarma - पंचकर्म - used to detoxify the body from unwanted dirth in the body.
The Eight Divisions of Ayurveda - The Ashtangas - अष्टांग
Ayurveda has eight divisions, each addressing specific field of Medical Practise. These Eight Divisions are known as The Ashtangas - अष्टांग.
An Excellent Article by you Dr.Apurva Tamhane. It is really nice to know so much about Ayurveda. Ayurveda is very old medicine system from India and is very helpful to all people for curing their diseases without any side effects. thank you for such an article.
Raghav