Ayurveda - Concept and Principles

According to Ayurveda a person is perfectly healthy if his body, mind, emotion, and soul are in perfect alignment with the universe; the Cosmic Intelligence. The three doshas in our body must be balanced and in their natural state for the person to be healthy.

Thus a disease is what results from obtaining an imbalance in our being; in our three doshas. The imbalance can stem from the body, mind, emotion, or soul. Traditional ayurvedic healing therapy does not only recognize physical disease such as flu, cancer and heart problems, it also recognizes mental disease such as anxiety, depression and restlessness; emotional problems such as prolonged grief, attachment, and apathy; and spiritual problems such as loss of sense of self, loss of connection with natural world and spiritual self-alienation

The traditional ayurvedic treatment also consists of restoring the balance of disturbed body-mind matrix through regulating diet, correcting life-routine and behavior, administration of drugs and resorting to preventive Panchkarma and Rasayana therapy.

In Ayuveda diagnosis is always done of the patient as a whole. The physician takes a careful note of the patient's internal physiological characteristics and mental disposition. He also studies such other factors as the affected bodily tissues, humours, the site at which the disease is located, patient's resistance and vitality, his daily routine, dietary habits, the gravity of clinical conditions, condition of digestion and details of personal, social, economic and environmental situation of the patient. The diagnosis also involves the following examinations:

• General physical examination
• Pulse examination
• Urine examination
• Examination of the faces
• Examination of tongue and eyes
• Examination of skin and ear including tactile and auditory functions

The basic therapeutic approach is the maintenance and promotion of health, prevention of disease and cure of sickness. Treatment of the disease consists in avoiding causative factors responsible for imbalance of the doshas, through the use of Panchkarma procedures, medicines, suitable diet, activity and regimen for restoring the balance and strengthening the body mechanisms to prevent or minimize future occurrence of the disease.

Normally traditional ayurvedic therapy measures involve use of medicines, specific diet and prescribed activity routine. Use of these three measures is done in two ways they are…

• Vipreeta
• Vipreetarthkari

In one approach of treatment the three measures antagonize the disease by counteracting the etiological factors and various manifestations of the disease.

In the second approach the same three measures of medicine, diet and activity are targeted to exert effects similar to the etiological factors and manifestations of the disease process.

For successful administration of a treatment four things are essential. They are:

• The physician
• The medicaments
• The nursing personnel
• The patient

The physician comes first in order of importance. He must possess technical skill, scientific knowledge, purity and human understanding. The physician should use his knowledge with humility, wisdom and in the service of humanity. Next in importance comes food and drugs. These are supposed to be of high quality; wide application, grown and prepared following approved procedures and should be available adequately. The third component of every successful treatment is the role of nursing personnel who should have good knowledge of nursing, must know the skills of their art and be affectionate, sympathetic, intelligent, neat & clean and resourceful. The fourth component is the patient himself who should be cooperative and obedient to follow instructions of the physician, able to describe ailments and ready to provide all that may be needed for treatment.

Ayurveda, the ancient traditional method of treatment involving combinations of herbal medicines, physical massages and various other forms of therapy, offers excellent remedies for many illnesses. Ayurvedic healing therapy can be used to treat ailments like Anxiety, Arthralgia, Asthma, Back pain, Diabetes, Disc Prolapse, Diseases of the eye, Dislocation, Dystonia, Hemiplegia, Hypertension, Impotence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Motor diseases, Multiple Sclerosis, Obesity, Peptic Ulcer, Peripheral Neuritis, Psoriasis and other skin diseases, Rheumatic Joint pains, Rheumatoid Arthritis etc. Apart from treatment for these diseases ayurvedic healing therapy also rejuvenates the body and mind from the ills arising out of the frictions of everyday life.

Uzhichil

This is a special Kerala type of massage in Ayurveda, done using medicated warm oils which rejuvenates the nervous and muscular systems of the body and enhances the blood circulation. It is done by applying herbal oil on the body and massaging softly with hands and feet as per the ayurvedic rules. Specially prepared Mukkoott oil is used for this purpose. This is a best treatment not only for people who are ailing, but for anyone who wants to rejuvenate the entire system.

Elakizhi

This is a process of massaging the body with heated cloth bag filled with fried medicinal leaves like ricinus, calatropis, tamarind and more. This massage is normally done by three people. It helps in stimulating the nerves and helps in reducing pain. This is done in cases of Rheumatism, arthritis, paralysis, sciatica, spondylosis and nervous disorders.

Podikizhi

This is one of the specialized massages from Ayurveda which is performed with small cloth bags filled with powdered herbs. This type of massage is done by three people and is very helpful in cases of arthritis, low back ache, sciatica, and primary stages of hemiplegia.

Thalapothichil

Under this procedure, the head is covered with Amla (Indian gooseberry) paste prepared in buttermilk or some decoctions suitable for the condition. Then, the head is covered with a banana leaf. This procedure has been seen to be very effective for dealing with stress, anxiety, sinusitis, chronic headache, sleep disorders and hair loss. It is mainly used for mental illness or psychosis, headache migraine, sinusitis, skin disease, insomnia, hair falling and mental retardation etc.

Udvarthanam

This is the process of massaging the body with herbal powders in a reverse order. The massage is done from the bottom up. The treatment is mainly for obesity, cholesterol and certain rheumatic complaints.

Thalapothichil

Under this procedure, the head is covered with Amla (Indian gooseberry) paste prepared in buttermilk or some decoctions suitable for the condition. Then, the head is covered with a banana leaf. This procedure has been seen to be very effective for dealing with stress, anxiety, sinusitis, chronic headache, sleep disorders and hair loss.

Dhanyamladhara

Dhanyamladhara literally means a ‘dhara’ is a procedure be done by four people using special pots to pour a warm acidic herbal fluid (Dhanyamlam) all over patient's body. It helps to reduce inflammation and pain in many cases and is a method of sweating without using oils. This is done for people with cases of arthritis, stroke, rheumatism etc.

Pizhichil

Pizhichil is a special form of traditional ayurvedic treatment that combines rich oil massage with a special heat treatment. This ayurvedic healing therapy is known as the “King’s Treatment” due to its popularity with the Maharajas of ancient India. This procedure has been seen to be very helpful in many types of multi joint problems and hemiplegia. It is strictly done for specific illnesses.

Sirodhara

Sirodhara means pouring of a liquid on the forehead in a continuous stream. According to the type of liquid used, Sirodhara can be classified into three types:

• Thailadhara - Sirodara with medicated oil.
• Thakradhara - Sirodhara with medicated buttermilk.
• Ksheeradhara - Sirodhara with medicated milk.

According to the liquid used, the effect will be different. Thailadhara is good for various types of nervous disorders like hemiplegia, facial palsy etc. Thakaradhara is good for various skin diseases, sleeplessness, stress and insanity. And Ksheeradhara is good for cooling the head, which helps immensely for people suffering from insomnia.

Sirovasthy

Under this, warm oils are kept on the head inside a leather cap for a long duration which depends on case to case. This is highly effective in cases of facial paralysis, headaches, spondylosis, hemiplegia etc.

Snehapanam

This involves internal administration of medicated ghee in daily increasing doses and strict restrictions on diet and activities. This is the primary preparation for all the panchakarmas. This is an internal Shehana (Oleation) procedure. It is helpful in many cases like allergic asthma, psoriasis, eczema, low immunity, hyper acidity, peptic ulcer, digestive disorders and in all kinds of mental illnesses.

Kadeevasthy

A particular type of oil is kept over the affected part (usually the lower back) inside a boundary made of some herbal pastes. This is particularly effective in all kinds of back pains and spinal disorders. The same procedure when done on the chest is called Urovasthy.

Thalam

Oils or pastes are applied on the middle of the head and kept for one hour. This has been seen to be helpful in alleviating insomnia, high blood pressure, stress and vatha conditions.

Lepanam

Herbal pastes are applied over the affected parts. This is usually done to reduce swelling, pain or inflammation of the joints. And this is also used to treat some skin diseases.

Pichu

Cotton pieces soaked in warm medicated oils are applied on the affected parts. This cotton will be soaked with warm oil frequently. This is very effective in relieving pain for muscles and joints. This is also performed on the head for some types of headaches and problems of sensory organs.

Avagaham

After some oil applications, the patient will be seated in a tub full of hot herbal decoction suitable for patient's condition. For the diseases of spinal cord, hip and lower back. This is very helpful for gynecological conditions.

Upanaham

A concoction of herbal pastes and some acidic liquids will be applied on the affected parts. This will be covered with leaves of calotropis, ricinus etc. and a cotton cloth on the top. This will be retained in place for at least 12 hours. This is highly effective for inflammatory joint pains and helps in reducing stiffness of joints and improves mobility of joints.

Nethra Tharpanam

Well melted and strained medicated ghee will be collected in a ridge made around the eyes with black gram paste. This is very effective for refractive errors and degenerative diseases of the eyes.

Putapakam

Herbal juice mixed with goat's milk is collected around the eyes similarly as in Nethra Tharpanam. This helps in relieving tiredness of the eyes helps in clearing the vision.

Nethradhara

This is an eye wash with special herbal decoctions, done by two persons. This has been seen to be very effective for eye infections and helps in refreshing the eyes.

Aschyothanam

This is nothing but application of eye drops. This has been found to be helpful in conditions like various eye infections; cataract etc.

Mukhalepam

A herbal powder is mixed with cow's milk and applied on the face. It is kept for one hour and then washed. This is a herbal face pack. This helps to remove wrinkles and black marks, improve the skin tone and imparts a special glow to the face. The powder is a special of the Rajah Ayurvedic hospitals under which Rajah Islands falls.

Ksheeradhoomam

Under this, the patients face and neck is steamed with medicated milk. This is very effective in treating facial paralysis and diseases of the sensory organs.

Vamanam

This is medically induced vomiting. This is the cleansing process for the upper respiratory tract and upper digestive tract. Effective in Kapha rogas and some skin diseases like leukoderma.

Virechanam

This is a medically induced purgation which cleanses the lower digestive tract. Almost all types of skin diseases and chronic rheumatic problems will be relieved by this.

Nasyam

It involves the administration of medicines through the nose in the form of drops or powders. It is one of the Panchakarmas. Highly effective for all kinds of headaches, paralysis, depression, stress, pain around the neck and shoulders, eye diseases etc.

Sneha Vasthy

Medicated oil mixed with some herbal paste and salt, is administered through the anus. The quantity of material will be decided according to the strength of the patient and disease. One with the lowest dose of oil is called Mathra Vasthy. This is beneficial in chronic nervous disorders, joint problems and skin diseases.

Kashaya Vasthy

This is enema done with a mixture of honey, salt, herbal paste, herbal decoction and medicated oils. This will be preceded by one or two rounds of Sneha Vasthy according to the condition of the patient. Combination of Sneha and Kashaya vasthys are helpful in some chronic rheumatic problems. This is very effective for Urinary stones, nervous disorders and in some gynecological problems

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