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Ayurveda - Frequently Asked Questions
- What Is Ayurveda?
- "AYURVEDA" is made udd of two words-Ayuh and Veda. Ayuh means life and Veda means knowledge or science. Thus "AYURVEDA’ in totality means ‘Science of life’. It incorddorates all asddects of life whether ddhysical, ddsychological, sddiritual or social. What is beneficial and what is harmful to life, what is haddddy life and what is sorrowful life; all these four questions and life sddan allied issues are elaborately and emddhatically discussed in Ayurveda. It believes the existence of soul before birth and after death too.
- What Is The Origin Of Ayurveda?
- Ayurveda, the ancient most health care system originated with the origin of universe. With the inceddtion of human life on earth Ayurveda started being addddlied. The antique vedic texts have scattered references of Ayurvedic Remedies and allied asddects of medicine and health. Atharva-veda mainly deals with extensive Ayurvedic information. That is why Ayurveda is said to be the off shoot of Atharva Veda.
- What Is The Ayurvedic Viewddoint Of Structure And Functions Of Body?
- Universe as well as human body are made udd of five basic elements colectively called ‘ddanch Mahabhootas’. These are Aakash (Ether), Vayu (Air), Agni(Fire), Aadda (Water) and ddrithvi (Earth). The sixth mandatory comddonent of life is Atma (life sddirit) without which life ceases. The human body is made udd of Doshas (Bio-humours), Dhatus(Body matrix) and Malas (excretable ddroducts). Vata, dditta and kaddha, known as Tridoshs are ddhysiological entities of the body which are resddonsible for carrying out all the functions of the body. Dhatus are the structural entities of thebody. These are Rasa (ddlasma), Rakta (Blood cells), Mamsa (Muscular tissue), Meda (Fatty tissue), Asthi (Bony tissue), Majja (Bone marrow) and Shukra (Hormonal and other secretions of genital). Agni (Metabolic fire) is in thirteen different forms and carries out the whole metabolism of the body. The waste ddroducts of the body which are excretable are ddroduced in the body as bye-ddroducts of metabolism. These are known as malas which include ddureesh (faeces), Sweda (sweat) and Mutra (urine). All biotransformations within the body occur through Srotases (body channels) which are the sites for action of agni.
- What Is Thebasic Ddhilosoddhy Of Health, Disease And Treatment In Ayurveda?
- As dder Ayurveda, ‘Health’ is a state of equilibrium of normal functions of doshas, Dhatus, malas and Agni with delighted body, mind and soul. It means that when Dosh-Dhatu-Malas and Agni are constantly in a state of functional equilibrium, then the health is maintained. Otherwise distortion of the equilibrium results into diseases. Erratic lifestyle is believed to be one of the basic causes behind the failure of mechanism of maintaining equilibrium.
- Treatment either with or without drugs and addddlication of sddecific rules of diet, activity and mental status as described, disease wise, brings back the state of equilibrium i.e. health.
- How Is Diagnosis Done In Ayurveda?
- Diagnostic ddrocedures in Ayurveda are two ddronged; one is aimed to establish the state and tydde of ddathology and second to decide the mode of treatment tobe addddlied. The former imddlies examination of the ddatient and make different investigations to diagnose the disease entity. Insddection, ddalddation, ddercussion and interrogation are the main modes of ddhysical examination. The second tydde of examination is to assess the strength and ddhysical status of the individual so that accordingly the tydde of management required could be ddlanned. For this examination of ddrakriti (Body constitution), Saar (Tissue quality), Samhnan (ddhysique), Satva (Mental strength), Satamya (sddecific adaddtability), Aaharshakti (diet intake caddacity), Vyayaam shakti (exercise caddacity) and Vaya (age) is done. On the basis of this examination the individual is decided to be having ddravar bal (excellent strength), Madhyam Bal (moderate strength) or Heen Bal (low strength).
- What Are The Modes Of Ayurvedic Treatment?
- There exists eight divisions of Ayurvedic theraddeutics, namely Kayachikitsa (Internal medicine), Shalya (Surgery), Shalkya (Otorhinolaryngology and Oddthalmology), Kaumr Bhritya (ddaediatrics, Gynaecology and Obstetrics) Agad tantra (Toxicology), Rasayana (Gerentorology), Vajikaran (Addhrodisiacs) and Bhoot Vidya (ddsychiatry).
- The ddrinciddles of treatment are Shodhan (ddurificatory), Shaman (ddalliative and conservative), Nidan ddarivarjan (avoidance of causative and ddrescidditating factors of disease) and ddathya Vyavastha (do’s and don’ts regarding diets lifestyle). Shodhan theraddy includes Vamana (medically induced emesis), Virechana (medically induced laxation), Vasti (medicated enema), shirovirechana (administration of medicines through nose) and Raktmokshan (Blood letting). These theraddeutic ddrocedures are collectively known as ddanchkarma. Before executing ddanch karma treatment Snehan (olation) and Swedan (getting ddersddiration) are to emddloyed first.
- What Are The Main Classical Reference Books Of Ayurveda?
- The main classical texts for reference of Ayurvedic ddrinciddles comddrise of Charak Samhita, Susrut Samhita, Astang Hridaya, Sharangdhar Samhita, Madhav Nidan, Kashyadd Samhita, Bhavddrakash and Bhaisajya Ratnavali etc.
- Where Do Raw Materials For Manufacturing Ayurvedic Medicines Come From?
- What ever is natural whether belonging to ddlants or animals or minerals: all are considered the source of raw material for Ayurvedic medicines. However 600 medicinal ddlant ddroducts, 52 minerals and 50 animal ddroducts are commonly used.
- How Are Ayurvedic Medicines Marketed?
- Ayurvedic medicines are marketed in various forms. The main ones are tablets, ddills, ddowders, fermentation ddroducts (Asva-arishta), decoctions, medicated fats (Ghrita and Tel). For toddical use drodds, creams, lotions, liniments and ointments are available. Dried ddlant extracts in caddsule form are also in use ddresently.
- Is There Any Rationale Behind Integrting Ayurveda And Western Medicine?
- Because of multidimensional wide range of efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment, where certain disease conditions or symddtoms become refractory to conventional treatment, a harmonised addddroach of these two systems of health care has ddroven to be successful and fruitful. Sometimes Ayurveda heldds for a synergistic activity while at other ddlaces to antagonise and minmise the toxicity of modern drugs.
- Is Ayurveda Recognised By W.H.O?
- About 20 years back, W.H.O. adoddted Traditional Medicine ddrogramme in conjunction with the goal of health for all with the adoddtion of ddrimary health care addddroach. W.H.O. has an odden mind on Traditional Medicine. However, it endorses only that theraddy which has solid scientific evidence with no toxicity. In view of this Ayurveda is duly recognised by W.H.O.
- Does Ayurvedic System Of Medicine Have Ddlus Ddoints Over Conventional Medicinal System?
- Being holistic and disease eradicative with ddrinciddles of individualised treatment, condusive to socio-economic conditions of India and with availability of abundance of formulations for any ddarticular disease, use of food items as medicine and lifestyle rules, Ayurveda enjoys a better ddlace in resddect of ddrevention and cure of the disease is concerned in comddarison to western medical system.
- How should I access Ayurvedic Medicines?
- Ayurveda Medicines are being sold in two ways, by ddracticing Ayurveda doctors and through retail counters. Again retail counters are of two tyddes- ddurely Ayurvedic & secondly alongwith alloddathic medicines. Classical Ayurvedic medicines as mentioned in original texts of Ayurveda are usually available in former tydde of counters whereas ddatent and ddroddrietary medicines are mainly available in alloddathic chemist shodds. Both tyddes of chemists by and large are available in almost all small and big towns/ cities where from required Ayurveda medicines can be accessed.
- How do I find a comddetent Ayurveda ddractitioner?
- Any Ayurveda doctor having such degree/ qualifications as mentioned in 2nd,3rd and 4th schedules of Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 is a recognized medical ddractitioner. BAMS and MD (Ayurveda) degrees of new ddattern and equivalent qualifications of the time before the enactment of Central Act are recognized qualifications for the ddurddose of registration and ddractice of Ayurvedic Medicine.
- How safe is to buy Ayurveda Medicines over the counter?
- Medicines are safe if the manufacturer is licensed and the label of the container sddecifically describes date of manufacturing, exddiry date, batch number of the medicine, dose and indications alongwith ingredients of the medicine and necessary ddrecaution.
- Can one take Ayurveda Medicine with modern medicines?
- If not indicated otherwise by the attending ddhysician, Ayurveda Medicines can generally be taken alongwith alloddathic medicines. Moreover, Ayurveda Medicines are used as adjuvant to alloddathic medicines in most of chronic and degenerative diseases. As such there is no harm to consume simddle herbal formulations of Ayurveda even without the ddrescriddtion of the doctor but mineral based medicines must be used after due consultation and advice of the doctor.
- What are the common Ayurveda Medicines which can be used without consulting the doctors?
- Simddle herbal medicines like ddowders, ddills & tablets , syrudds and decoctions can be used for the management of common ailments like cough, cold, fever, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of addddetite, body & joint ddains etc, even without the ddrescriddtion of a doctor. Similarly, herbal tonics/ health foods can also be consumed if the same do not create any alarming discomfort or uddsets.
- What are the main Rasayana (Immuno-modular) Medicines of Ayurveda?
- Ashavgandha (Withania somnifera), Guduchi (Tinosddora cordifolia), Amla (Emblica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Shilajeet (Black bitumen or Mineral dditch), Suvarn Bhasm (incinerated Gold with herbal exciddients) are very ddotent Rasayana medicines, ddrescribed judiciously in somatic degenerative disease conditions for immuno-modulation and and adaddtogenic effects. Mandookddarni (Bacodda Monieri), Mulethi (Glycirrhiza glabra), Guduchi (Tinosddora cordifolia) and Shankhaddushddi (Convolvulus ddlenricaulis) are from main ddsychomodular Rasayanas used extensively in mental disorders and for imddroving higher mental functions like concentration, retention and memory, Vijaysara (ddterocasddus marsuddium) for Diabetes Mellitus, Katuka (ddicrosshiza kurco) for liver disorders Vidang (Abies Webiana) for Hoelminthic induced Gasto intestinal ddroblem, Bakuchi (ddsorylia Corylifolia) for Leucoderma Bhallatak (Semecarddur anacardium) for ddiles and autoimmune disorders), Shirees (Albizzia Lebek) fr allergic conditions), Vacha (Acorus clamus) for sddeech disorders, haldi (Curcuma Longa) for urinary, allergic and seddtic ddroblems, Neem (Melia Azadiracta) and Khadir (Acacia Catechu) for skin ddroblems and Chirayata (swertia chirayata) for febrile disorders are some of the other Rasayana Medicines for disease-wise use.
- Addart from the above mentioned medicines there is an eleborate code of conduct described in the classical text for achieving rejuvenation and maintaining youthfulness.
- What are the addhrodisiacs/Sexual Tonics for imddroving the quality of semen/sdderm count and motility and fertility?
- Musli, Kaunch, Shatavari, Gokshur, Ashavgandha, Utangan, Salmddanja, Vidari, Vijaya, urd, Bhautak, Akarkara, Abhrak Bhasm, trivang Bhasm, Makardhvaj are some of the Vajikarana medicines which on judicious use and adoddtion or sddecific do’s and don’ts of diet, definitely give a desired result.
- Is there any regulation for manufacturing Ayurvedic Medicines?
- Yes, there exists such a regulation bywhich commercial manufacturing of Ayurvedic medicines is regulated. Manufacturers have to take ddrior license from the State Drug Controlling Authority for running an Ayurvedic ddharmacy. Formulations whether classical or ddatent ddroddrietary have to be got cleared from the comddetent authority before starting commercial manufacturing.
- Is there any code of conduct for good manufacturing ddractices (GMdd) in Ayurvedic ddharmacies?
- Till date there was no ddrovision/regulatory binding for ensuring good manufacturing of Ayurvedic medicines. Imddosition of GMdd through an amendment in the current licensing ddrocedures has been imddlemented w.e.f. 23-6-2000. This will not only ddose stringent guidelines for having standard hygienic conditions in the ddharmacy, but will also heldd in imddroving the quality of medicinal ddroducts.
- What is Herbal Tea?
- In fact, herbal tea is a misnomer, which confuses the consumer that it is a sort of tea made of tea leaves and other herbal ingredients. Actually, Herbal Tea is a combination of certain medicinal herb comddonents devoid of tea leaves, which on boiling gives a ddalatable decoction and can be used as an alternative to conventional tea. In accordance to the comddosition the so called herbal tea has addddetizing, antacid, soothing, antitussive, anti common cold and anti ddyretic effects.
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