introduction to Ayurveda is simplified foe beginners . this presentation gives brief information on history of ayurveda, method treatment , disease and prevention. this article finds more insight to healthy way of living through ayurveda. tridosha, datu and parkriti has been briefed well and simplified.
2. Definition
Ayurveda is a holistic approach to health that is
designed to help people live long, healthy, and
well-balanced lives. The term Ayurveda is taken
from the ancient Indian language, Sanskrit
words Ayus, meaning life or lifespan, and Veda
meaning knowledge literally means "Knowledge
of Life".
3. Evolution
Ayurvedic medicine (also called Ayurveda) is one
of the world’s oldest medical systems. It originated
in India and has evolved there over thousands of
years. The "contemporary" form of Ayurvedic
medicine is mostly derived from several sacred
Indian texts which were written in Sanskrit
between 1500 BC and 400 AD.
4. Objective
Supreme Scholars of Ayurveda- Charka and
Sushruta have told that- Objective of Ayurveda is
"Swasthsya Swaasthyarakshanam" i.e. to maintain
the positive health of a healthy person and
"Aaturasya Vikar Prashanam" i.e. to cure the
disease of the patient.
5. Ayu + Veda
LIFE: The unified State of
Body, Mind & Soul
SCIENCE
(Knowledge)
Ayurveda = Science of Life
7. Ayurveda – the Wisdom of Life
• Offers a proven guide for a life of
happiness, vitality, love and purpose.
• Human beings are not viewed as mere
thinking physical machines, but
• Rather as fields of intelligence in dynamic
exchange with the energy and
information of the environment.
8. Ayurveda – a holistic system
• A Comprehensive System with equal
emphasis on the body, mind and spirit
• Strives to restore the innate harmony
of the individual
• It is not only about treating sickness
but – preventing disease and
enhancing health, longevity, vitality
and happiness.
9. Vedas
– It is the bedrock upon which Ayurveda rests
• Considered to be composed around 1500-2000
BC
• Four Vedas
Rig-veda :contains hymns to be recited
Sam-veda : collection of hymns to be sung
Yajur-veda : entire sacrificial rite
Athar-veda : contains information on
health and sickness
10. Earliest Texts
• 760 BC : Charaka Samhita – herbal or plant
based pharmacopoeia
• 660 BC : Sushruta Samhita – Surgical
approaches
• 7th Century : Ashtanga Sangraha of Vagbhata
– summary of previous two
• AD 100 : Nagarjuna – iatrochemistry
• 1331 : Madhava Nidana by Madhava
– Ayurvedic Diagnosis
• 14th Century :Sarangadhara Samhita
– Pulse diagnosis
12. The Four Components of Life
Health according to Ayurveda is perfect balance
between
• Body : Sharir
• Senses : Indriya
• Mind : Sattva
• Spirit (Soul) : Atma
13. AYURVEDA
TRIDOSHA THEORY- 3 DOSHAS
PANCHAMAHABHUTA THEORY- 5 elements
VATA PITTA KAPHA
PRITHVI
Earth
JALA
Water
AGNI
Fire
VAYU
Air
AKASH
Space
EQUILIBRIUM
of 3 DOSHAS
DISEQUILIBRIUM
of 3 DOSHAS
HEALTH DISEASE
SOUL+
14. Effecting Human Physiology
Space :
• In the human body, many spaces are aspects
of the Space element.
• The spaces in the mouth, nose,
gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract,
abdomen, thorax, capillaries, etc.
15. Effecting Human Physiology
Air :
• All movements involve Air as an element.
• The nature of the elements themselves
determine the nature of physiology.
• With the human body Air is present in the
pulsations of the heart, lungs etc.
16. Effecting Human Physiology
• Fire : The source of Fire and light in the solar
system is the sun.
• In the human body, the source of Fire is
metabolism.
• Fire works in the digestive system as well as
in the gray matter of the brain, where Fire
manifests as intelligence. Fire also activates
the retina to perceive light.
• Therefore body temperature, digestion,
thinking etc are all the functions of the Fire.
17. Effecting Human Physiology
Water:
• It manifests in the body as the secretions of
digestive juices, in the mucous membranes
and in plasma and cytoplasm.
• Water is vital for the functioning of all the
systems of the body.
• For example, dehydration resulting from
diarrhea and vomiting is due to water
element.
18. Effecting Human Physiology
Earth :
• The fifth element, is also present in the
microcosm of the human being.
• Life is possible on this planet because the
Earth holds all living and non-living substances
to its solid surface.
19. The Four Components of Life
1. Body
2. INDRIYA (Senses & Functions):
• Gyan-Indriya (Senses) : Sight, Hearing, Smell,
Touch & Taste
• Karm-Indriya (Voluntary functions) :
3. MANAS (Mind) : Supreme Indriya that controls
all Indriyas
• Has three abstract qualities – ‘Sattva’, ‘Rajas’
and ‘Tamas’.
20. The Four Components of Life
4. ATMA (Soul/Self) :
• Param Atma : Supreme, immortal pure has
only Sattva, free of happiness or sorrow.
• Jiv Atma : resides in living body attached to
Rajas and Tamas, witness every function &
emotion throughout the life.
21. Dosha, Dhatu and Mala
The concept of ‘Dosha Dhatu Mala’ theory is the basic
philosophy of Ayurveda, which deals about ‘Tridoshas’.
Doshas Functions
Vatta (wind) Mobility
Pitta (fire) Transformation
Kapha (water) Consistency/Stability
22. Tridosha
Ayurveda is based on 3 energies.
Their balanced state is health and imbalance
disease.
• VATA – the kinetic energy, movement,
division, growth, etc.
• PITTA – the thermal energy, heat
generation, intellect, sight, etc.
• KAPHA – the potential energy
23. Three Doshas (Tridoshas)
• Tridoshas are Vata, Pitta & Kapha
• Tridosha concept is applicable in living organisms
• Tridoshas are biological entities responsible for
structure, function and behaviour dimensions of all
living organisms
• Therefore human body mind constitution (Prakriti),
diseases, Medicines and Food all has been categorized
in Vata type, Pitta type and Kapha type.
• But nothing is absolute pure; every thing is
permutation and combination of Tridoshas
24. Characteristics of Doshas
Vata Pitta Kapha
Dry Oily Oily
Cold Hot Cold
Light Light Heavy
Irregular Intense Stable
Mobile Fluid Viscous
Rarified Mal odorous Dense
Rough Liquid Smoth
25. Five Fundamentals Elements of Ayurveda (Panchmahabhuta)
Panchmahabhuta Sensory Organs/work Properties and actions in the body
Space (Aakash) Ears/Hearing Sound Akash forms vacuumed organs of the body.
All body channels, working for the
movement of the nutrients and all other
fluids. It produces softness, lightness and
porosity
Air (Vayu or Pavan) Skin/Touch Governs inhalation, exhalation, opening and
closing of eyelids, locomotion and other
motor functions. Air creates dryness,
lightness and emaciation.
Fire (Agni or Teja) Eyes/Visual (Sight) Fire controls temperature and luster of body
colour. It helps in digestion and assimilation
of food, maturation and improves eye sight.
Water (Aap or Jala) Tongue/Taste Jal is the connecting force and fluid part of
the body and slimy, fat and sweat by nature.
It makes things supple and smooth, Imparts
glossiness and Enhances fluid content. It
acts as nutrient, emollient and purgative.
Earth (Prithvi or Bhoomi) Nose/Smell Prithvi controls organs as teeth, nails, flesh,
skin, tendons and muscles. It is heavy,
immobile, compact and rough and increases
firmness & strength of the body. It acts as
nutrient, emollient and purgative.
26. Concept of Sapta Dhatus
( 7 Body Tissues)
Body is made up of Seven Tissues and their function is
to maintain the body matrix
1. Rasa
(Plasma)
3. Mansa
(Muscles)
4. Medas
(Fats)
5. Asthi
(Bones)
6. Majja
(Bone marrow)
7. Shukra
(Reproductive
tissues)
2. Rakta
(Blood)
Ojas
(Responsible for Immunity)
27. Concept of Prakriti
(Body Mind Constitution and Temperament)
• Concept of Prakriti (human constitution) is related to
physiological attributes to health and disease.
• Prakriti is determined by relative predominance of dosha
in intra-uterine life of a fetus.
• Prakriti is unchangeable throughout the life span, but
• One can take remedial measures in diet and behavior
suitable to his/her prakriti to maintain health and
prevention of disease.
28. Significance of Prakriti in Clinical Medicine
• For Promotive & Preventive Health
– Know your prakriti and diseases susceptibility
– Prakriti will tell the risk factors, course of disease,
complications and prognosis
– Follow your diet, behaviour, profession and life style suitable
to your prakriti to lead a healthy life.
• Curative Health
– Select the drugs and dose as per prakriti
– Drug body interaction and reaction pattern depend upon the
prakriti of individual & drug
– Associated complications of a disease, prognosis and their
treatment can be improved as per prakriti of disease &
individual
30. The factors responsible for prevention
of illness and promotion of health
Day regimen (Dinacharya)
Night regimen (Ratricharya )
Seasonal regimen
(Rutucharya)
Seasonal Purification (Rutu
anusara Shodhana)
31. Dosha - 3 (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)
Agni - 13 (Metabolic fire)
Dhatu - 7 (Body tissues)
Mala - 3 (Waste products)
Indriya - 5 (Sensory motor organs)
Manas - 1 (Mind)
Atma - Soul
Components of
health
Definition of Health
Physical &
Physiological
Psychological
Spiritual
One whose doshas, agni, functions of doshas and malas are in state of
equilibrium, who has cheerful atman, mind, intellect and sense organs is
designated as healthy.
32. Types of Treatment in Ayurveda:
There are two aspects of treatment in Ayurveda:
1. Shamana Chikitsa (Curing of diseases - Alleviating Therapy)
2. Shodhana Chikitsa (Prevention of diseases - Purification Therapy)
33. Pacification Treatment Purification Treatment
Pacifies doshas locally Removes doshas from body
Comparatively of temporary
action.
Effect lasts for long
Done in minimal or moderate
dosha and of minimal or
moderate strength
Done in profound dosha and of
profound strength
Does not interfere much with
tissues (dhatus)
Normalizes tissue (dhatu)
functions
Basic treatment modalities
34.
35. Rasayana
• Rejuvenation Therapy
• Delays Aging
• Provide Immunity
• Improve Memory and sensory
perception
Traditional way to be EVER GREEN
36. Shodhana Chikitsa (Prevention of diseases)
The main aim of Shodhana treatment is to eliminate the internal
causative factors of the disease. It is one the most important techniques
in Ayurveda and is an internal purification process. Panchakarma
therapeutic procedures are used to facilitate the elimination of harmful
factors through following processes:
Vaman Emesis For Kapha dosha
Virechan Purgation For Pitta dosha
Basti Enema For Vatta dosha
Nasya
Administrating medicines
especially through nose
For Kapha dosha from head
Raktamokshan Blood letting For Rakta and Pitta dosha
37. Shamana Chikitsa (Curing of diseases)
Shamana is specially done after the Shodhana therapy and in less vitiation.
Ayurvedic medicines are used internally and externally to manage the
symptoms and cause of the disease through the balancing the equilibrium
of Dosha, Dhatu, Mala and Agni and also to increase the Immunity. In
Ayurveda there are thousands of medicines consisting of herbs, minerals
and biological products, which are used alone or in compound form to
suppress and cure diseases, particularly when the disease is at an early
stage.
38. Ayurveda Vs Modern Medicine
Philosophy
M: treats discrete disease entities
A: treats subtle dysphoria, whose disruptive trends may later develop into
discrete disease
Diagnostic
M: scientific objectivity and verifiability (accumulating statistically significant
data) – “experience-distant”
A: pratyaksha (perceptive understanding of each individual “experience-near”
Treatment
M: Linear logic, categorical and uses a classification system of disease
A: Maintenance of optimal health by daily proactive care, continually modified
according to seasonal changes
Belief
A: Individual has the innate capacity for potential self-correction and primary self
healing
39. Benefits of Ayurveda
Physical Benefits
The basic constitution represents the
individual’s psychological and physical
nature, distinctly.
Non-invasive diagnostic Ayurvedic treatments are
beneficial for chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart
ailments and cancer.
Difficult diseases like asthma and tumor growths
(gulmas) are managed effectively.
40. A discerning diet according to one’s dosha type, and well
regulated life (dinacharya) helps strengthen one’s natural
immune system.
Benefits of Ayurveda
•Detoxification methods like Panchakarma and other
herbal remedies make the body more responsive to
medicines and treatment.
•It hastens the healing process.
•Yogasanas achieve the twin purpose of strengthening
body-parts such as bone, muscle and vital organs like
heart, liver, stomach, intestine as well as
•Keeping out blood circulation and psychological
conditions strong and resilient.
41. Benefits of Ayurveda
Psychological Benefits:
It is said that the condition of body and
mind are integral to the overall health
of an individual.
Ayurvedic massages, inhalation
of herbal (Aromatherapy)
preparations, panchakarma
(nasya) besides much-tested
yogasanas and meditation leave
a calming effect on the nerves.
42. Spiritual Benefits:
The treatment methods, diet and lifestyle regimen
in Ayurveda are meticulously planned to heal the
body as well enrich the mind
So that each can improve from their own levels to
the higher goal of realizing the full self-potential.
It was with Ayurveda that the unique longevity and
rejuvenating method of Rasayana was born for
mankind to progress in the path of spirituality.
Benefits of Ayurveda
43. • Ayurveda is not only treatment, it is a way of life
• Has no side effects
• Gives happy, healthy disease free long life
• Makes you Tension Free
• Relaxes mind
• Provides knowledge about life
• Tells about good and bad dietary effects to life
• Tells the way for life goals, with keeping good
health status
Summary of Benefits of Ayurveda