Etymology of ayurvedaEtymology of ayurveda

The word ayurveda is a sanskrit term and is basically formed of two words The word ayurveda is a sanskrit term and is basically formed of two words

Ayu – lifeAyu – life

Veda - scienceVeda - science

Thus ayurveda is the science of life.Thus ayurveda is the science of life.

It is defined as the mode of assessing the various forms of life like -:It is defined as the mode of assessing the various forms of life like -:

Hitayu ( healthy life)Hitayu ( healthy life)

Ahitayu (unhealthy life)Ahitayu (unhealthy life)

Sukhayu (happy life)Sukhayu (happy life)

Dukhayu ( unhappy life)Dukhayu ( unhappy life)

Principles of ayurvedPrinciples of ayurvedAyurved believes that the five natural forces called the Panchamahabhuta i.e. the earth, Ayurved believes that the five natural forces called the Panchamahabhuta i.e. the earth,

water, fire, air and the vacuum are invariably involved in forming the body water, fire, air and the vacuum are invariably involved in forming the body constituents. The body constituents include the dosha and dhatu whose balanced constituents. The body constituents include the dosha and dhatu whose balanced condition in the body is essential for prevention of disease.condition in the body is essential for prevention of disease.

DoshaDhatu

Dosha – they are 3 in no. formed by the combination of the five mahabhuta’s . Dosha – they are 3 in no. formed by the combination of the five mahabhuta’s . These areThese are

Dosha Mahabhuta Description

Vata Air + Vacum Vata governs the principle of movement in our body

Pitta Fire + Water The Pitta Dosha is responsible for the

process of metabolism.

Kapha Water + Earth Kapha is responsible for growth and stability

Dosha Properties Functions

Vata dry, cold, light, mobile, clear, rough, subtle

It promotes movement, respiration , circulation, conducting nerve impulses, delivery of nutrients to the cells and the excretion of waste products.

Pitta slightly oily, hot, intense, light,, free flowing, foul smelling, fluid

It promotes digestion, metabolism, vision, maintains body temperature, intellectual aspects etc.

Kapha Soft, oily, cold, heavy, stable, viscid, smooth,  

It gives strength and stability, both physically and psychologically. It enhances resistance to disease and promotes the healing process.

Predominant period of doshasPredominant period of doshas

These 3 doshas are predominant during their respective time period as follows

Time period Predominant dosha

6 am –10 am Kapha

10 am – 2 pm Pitta

2 pm – 6 pm Vata

6 pm – 10 pm Kapha

10 pm – 2 am Pitta

2 am – 6 am Vata

Dhatu’s are 7 in no. and form the entire anatomical and physiological network of body Dhatu’s are 7 in no. and form the entire anatomical and physiological network of body . Proper amount of each dhatu and their balanced function is very important for good . Proper amount of each dhatu and their balanced function is very important for good healthhealth..

Together these dosha and dhatu regulate every physiological and psychological Together these dosha and dhatu regulate every physiological and psychological characteristic from basic cellular processes to the most complex biological functions.characteristic from basic cellular processes to the most complex biological functions.

When these forces are in a state of natural balance the defense mechanism of the When these forces are in a state of natural balance the defense mechanism of the body works efficiently. But when this balance is disturbed due to an incompatible diet, body works efficiently. But when this balance is disturbed due to an incompatible diet, lifestyle, lack or excess of exercise or mental stress, then the body's immunity can be lifestyle, lack or excess of exercise or mental stress, then the body's immunity can be affected leading to accumulation of various toxins and leading to formation of affected leading to accumulation of various toxins and leading to formation of disease.disease.

How to maintain this balanceHow to maintain this balance

For prevention of a diseaseFor prevention of a disease

Daily regimenDaily regimen Dietic rulesDietic rules Seasonal rulesSeasonal rules Mental well-beingMental well-being

For treating a diseaseFor treating a disease

ShamanShaman is the process by which the imbalanced dosha and dhatu are brought back to normalcy by is the process by which the imbalanced dosha and dhatu are brought back to normalcy by adopting various methods .adopting various methods .

ShodhanShodhan comprises of five purificatory methods called as the comprises of five purificatory methods called as the “Panchakarma”“Panchakarma”--

Vamana (emesis)Vamana (emesis) Virechan (purgation)Virechan (purgation) Basti (medicated enema)Basti (medicated enema) Nasya (nasal drops)Nasya (nasal drops) Raktamokshan (blood-letting)Raktamokshan (blood-letting)

By adopting Panchakarma we can detoxify our body and can get permanently cured from a By adopting Panchakarma we can detoxify our body and can get permanently cured from a disease by destroying it from it’s roots.disease by destroying it from it’s roots.

Shaman (palliative treatment)

Shodhan (purificatory treatment)

Why Detox?Why Detox? The causes leading to imbalance in dosha’s and dhatu’s are-:The causes leading to imbalance in dosha’s and dhatu’s are-:

Consumption of junk foodConsumption of junk food Irregular timings of mealsIrregular timings of meals Taking excess mental stressTaking excess mental stress Inadequate sleep Inadequate sleep Exposure to pollutionExposure to pollution

Due to all these causes various toxins get accumulated in our body and tend to cause Due to all these causes various toxins get accumulated in our body and tend to cause various disease pathologiesvarious disease pathologies

These toxins can be expelled out of the body by the ayurvedic boon called These toxins can be expelled out of the body by the ayurvedic boon called Panchakarma(Detoxification)Panchakarma(Detoxification)

Three Steps in PanchakarmaThree Steps in Panchakarma

1.1. Poorvakarma Poorvakarma – theses are the preliminary steps done before undertaking the – theses are the preliminary steps done before undertaking the detoxification therapy -:detoxification therapy -:

Dipan – it ignites the digestive fire which has weakened in the disease processDipan – it ignites the digestive fire which has weakened in the disease process

Pachan – it tries to digest the accumulated toxinsPachan – it tries to digest the accumulated toxins

Snehan – it involves oil application externally and it’s consumption as well.Snehan – it involves oil application externally and it’s consumption as well.

Swedan – it is steam induced sweating for toxin clearance.Swedan – it is steam induced sweating for toxin clearance.

Snehan and SwedanSnehan and Swedan

Snehan and swedan provides lubrication and strength to the body for the upcoming detox therapy.Snehan helps in loosening the toxins from their sites which are then dislodged by swedanThese dislodged toxins are then easily expelled out of the body by the detox therapy.

Diet in poorvakarmaDiet in poorvakarmaThe poorvakarma should be started 5-7 days before undertaking the actual detox therapy. The poorvakarma should be started 5-7 days before undertaking the actual detox therapy.

Following dietic rules must be followed during this periodFollowing dietic rules must be followed during this period

Avoid having non – veg food like fish , meat etc.Avoid having non – veg food like fish , meat etc. Have 2-3 glass of warm water dailyHave 2-3 glass of warm water daily Food containing less oil and spices Food containing less oil and spices Cold beverages should be completely given upCold beverages should be completely given up Light to digest food like vegetable soups, fruit juices, brown bread, sprouted green gram is Light to digest food like vegetable soups, fruit juices, brown bread, sprouted green gram is

preferred.preferred.

A day before detox therapy, food that will aggravate the respective dosha is given. This aggravated A day before detox therapy, food that will aggravate the respective dosha is given. This aggravated dosha is then expelled out easily by the corresponding detox therapydosha is then expelled out easily by the corresponding detox therapy

For e.g. a day before conducting the vaman , preparations of black gram are given which is known For e.g. a day before conducting the vaman , preparations of black gram are given which is known to aggravate kapha , which is then expelled.to aggravate kapha , which is then expelled.

2. Pradhan karma – 2. Pradhan karma – this includes the five methods of purification for removal of accumulated this includes the five methods of purification for removal of accumulated toxins. toxins.

• Virechan- It is induction of purgation by giving certain medicines for removal of excess Pitta.Virechan- It is induction of purgation by giving certain medicines for removal of excess Pitta.

Basti- It is used for cleansing the intestine by administering medicated oils Basti- It is used for cleansing the intestine by administering medicated oils and decoctions for pacifying the excess Vata. Hridaya basti is an important and decoctions for pacifying the excess Vata. Hridaya basti is an important type of this therapy where medicated oils are pooled over heart region.type of this therapy where medicated oils are pooled over heart region.

Nasya- It involves administration of medicated oil through the nose to Nasya- It involves administration of medicated oil through the nose to cleanse accumulated dosha’s from the head and neck region.cleanse accumulated dosha’s from the head and neck region.

Raktamokshan- Raktamokshana is procedure to cleanse the blood and Raktamokshan- Raktamokshana is procedure to cleanse the blood and remove toxins from the same.remove toxins from the same.

3. Paschat karma3. Paschat karma – helps in regaining the normal functioning of body – helps in regaining the normal functioning of body

This includes various rules to be followed after having Panchakarma.This includes various rules to be followed after having Panchakarma.

dietic dietic

behavioural behavioural

physical physical

psychological rulespsychological rules

The diet after completion of detox therapy should be light to digest and may includeThe diet after completion of detox therapy should be light to digest and may include

Soup made with rice with or without some herbsSoup made with rice with or without some herbs Rice cooked with green gramRice cooked with green gram Vegetable soupVegetable soup Clear meat soupClear meat soup

The routine diet can be started after 3, 5, or 7 days depending upon the grade of detox you The routine diet can be started after 3, 5, or 7 days depending upon the grade of detox you have undergone.have undergone.

This is the last step of detoxification therapy after which we can start the proposed ayurvedic This is the last step of detoxification therapy after which we can start the proposed ayurvedic treatment.treatment.

Correct Detox ProcessCorrect Detox Process Hence Hence shodhan followed by shaman shodhan followed by shaman is the correct approach in starting ayurvedic is the correct approach in starting ayurvedic

treatment and should be implemented in every patient because an ayurvedic drug treatment and should be implemented in every patient because an ayurvedic drug can act effectively only on the body which has been detoxified properly. Also a can act effectively only on the body which has been detoxified properly. Also a disease which has been treated in this way has probably no chance of recurrence.disease which has been treated in this way has probably no chance of recurrence.

Shodhan Shodhan

ShamanShaman

Permanent cure of diseasePermanent cure of disease